The city-state of Singapore has a large and diverse cultural heritage. The city is actually one of the most diverse cities in the world. The different cultures residing in Singapore live in harmony with each other as the city has integrated with different ethnicities for centuries. Today, the city is a mix of predominantly Malay, Chinese, European and Indian heritages. About 46% of residents are foreign-born, adding even more culture to the mix.
While the city contains different areas made up of individual ethnicities and cultures, most Singapore residents consider themselves Singaporeans. The buildings of the city and the small towns still show much of the history of the island. Many of the buildings share the neoclassical design brought by the British colonists. Many of the Muslim features can be seen on Arab Street and Chinatown is full of Chinese culture, cuisine and language. Little India is also uniquely decorated with Indian culture.
The city also has several different religions. Much of the Chinese population follows Buddhism, Shenism, Taoism, and Christianity. Most Malays are Muslim and the Indian population is predominantly Hindu, with some Sikhs and Muslims included. Despite the many different types of religions found throughout Singapore, religious tolerance is widespread. Religions are not limited by ethnic borders and temples, mosques and churches can be seen everywhere. Singaporeans celebrate their religious beliefs with several different festivals, held throughout the city. Each festival is based on specific religious concepts, but the larger festivals are usually celebrated by all Singaporeans.
With such a large mix of ethnicities spread throughout the city-state, there are also several different languages spoken by the residents. The four main languages are Mandarin, Tamil, Malay, and English. English is very common and serves as a universal language to unite the different ethnic groups. Schools often teach young children English and their native language. Many of Singapore’s residents speak ‘Singlish’, which is a mixture of English and other languages. This often makes it difficult for foreigners to understand what people are saying.
One of the most interesting aspects of Singaporean culture is the local cuisine. Food is always available in Singapore and is offered in a wide range of different tastes and recipes. Some of the dishes that can be found in Singapore are Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Western, Italian, Spanish, Thai, French, Perkanakan and fusion mixes. It is very common to order a dish with a mix of different ethnic flavors. Indian dishes are often very spicy, and Chinese dishes often contain seafood. The main ingredient in all Malaysian dishes is coconut milk.
The culture of Singapore has evolved from a combination of the original inhabitants and the colonization of the island by the British in the 19th century. The original inhabitants were the Malays and when the island became a trading port for the British East India Trading Company, it introduced several different ethnic groups, including Chinese and Europeans. Today, the cosmopolitan city-state of Singapore is bursting with historical significance and modern technology.