ColumnColumn

＜Data Joke＞ [Singapore] The most believed superstition in Singapore

  • Release date: Jul 30, 2022
  • 10 Views

images

"Hungry ghost festival" is coming in Singapore. Its easy to tell since you see a lot of beautiful altars by the road with fire and people pray to it. I like the name "hungry ghost". Well it doesn't give me scary impression but cute. I'm not sure if its appropriate attitude or not… It is close to "Obon" season we have in Japan. But it seems a bit different. In Japan, it is just to welcome ancestors to visit us once a year and nothing more than that. But in Singapore it seems the play a trick on you when you don't treat them good. Sounds cute.

I'm interested in what kind of trick they are making…? Hope its not that scary. By the road, you see people place fruit, snacks, fake money and put a fire on candles. They are seen very often on the street and outstanding. I found that I have never talked about those traditional things in Singapore, this time I tried to find what kind of superstitions are here in Singapore.

images

Reference : YouGov (2018), https://sg.yougov.com/en-sg/news/2018/10/04/two-out-three-singaporeans-believe-ghosts/

The chart above refers to YouGov(2018), "The most believed superstitions in Singapore". Well the highest is 28%. So it doesn't mean that everybody follow those traditions but I found so many things in common with Japan. It is so interesting but understandable since Japan has many cultural origins in China which is the same in Singapore. For example, I have heard "Don't put a mirror in your bed room" in Japan too which is based on Chinese geomancy(Feng Shui). What I hear often in Japan is also "Don't clip your nails at night"/Don't vertically stick chopsticks into your rice bowl.

Now I understand how less I understand about Japanese superstitions (Sad). I guess I did so many things bad in Japan unintentionally… What else I can think of in Japan. Maybe "Don't put your pillow north"? I'm interested in what are shown to the ranking if you do the same survey in Japan. I also found it very interesting that there are 2 options about "taking a photo" in the list. Taking a photo of course is the modern culture. So I assume some superstitions are relatively young, made recently. One question to my Singaporean friends is it appropriate to say "Happy hungry ghost festival"?

*This story uses real data but whole story is fiction.

  • Intage Inc

    Author profile
    Jun Hasegawa

    I have been stationed in Singapore for many years, and am currently working in Tokyo
    I use data in my writing, but it is mainly jokes.
    Just want to use data not only for logical view but for some fun!

  • Intage Inc

    Editor profile
    Intage Inc.

    ＊＊＊

Reproducing and quotation
  • The copyright of this report/column is held by Intage Inc. or the company to which the author belongs. Please confirm the following prohibitions and cautions, and specify the source when reproducing or quoting.
    Example:
    "Source: Intage's Research Report "(Report title) (issued on DD/MM/YYYY)"
    "Source: Global Market Surfer, article published on DD/MM/YYYY"
  • Prohibiton:
    • Modification of part or all of the contents
    • Sale or publication of part or all of the contents
    • Use that is offensive to public order and morals or that leads to illegal activities
    • Reprpducing or quotation for the purpose of advertising or sales promotion of companies, products, or services.
  • Other cautions:
    • We are not responsible for any trouble, loss or damage caused by the use of this report.
    • These terms of use do not restrict the use of quotations, etc., which are permitted under the Copyright Act.
  • If you have any questions about reprinting or quotation, please contact us from here