9 August is National Day, which is a very special day for ALL Singaporeans. It is the landmark day when Singaporeans, together as a nation, celebrate the time when our small country, after many years under the rule of the British, the Japanese and the Malayians, declared to the world that we would survive as an independent nation.

Singapore became an independent, sovereign nation on 9 August 1965. Every year, every Singaporean company and organisation celebrates the nation's birthday. The Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts and other Government bodies organise many educational outreach programmes to celebrate this landmark event.

National Day Observance Ceremony

National Day is a public holiday. In the morning, National Day Observance Ceremonies are held all over Singapore, in Community Centres where people gather for activities, in schools, in companies and other places. This solemn ceremony commemorate the landmark day which the then Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, declared independence on the steps of City Hall, on 9 August 1965. A flag raising ceremony is held before the Singapore Pledge is taken.

National Day Parade

In the evening comes the most exciting event: the National Day parade, held at the National Stadium usually, and held at City Hall and Padang every four years. It is a time when countless Singaporeans squeeze into the stadium to enjoy an evening of show, parade and fun. Every year, the parade is based on a different theme, which is picked to celebrate a certain part of Singapore's history.

The highlights of the parade include the March-Past by various sections of the military, uniformed groups and other organisations, the 21-gun salute announcing the arrival of the President, the state flag fly-past by a Chinook with two helicopter escorts, the fly-past by the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the magnificent fireworks, marking the end of the parade.

Below is an example of a National Day parade programme:

National Day Parade 2002
THEME: A Caring Nation
MESSAGE: Together a New Singapore

5.30pm
Drum Ensemble: Heartbeat of a Caring Nation
Combined School’s Choir: Holiday/Celebrate
School Band Display: Embrace Globalisation
Combined School’s Choir: National Song’s Medley
Mass Display: Garlands of Love
SAF and Home Team: Strength-to-Strength

6.30pm
Parade Form-up
Song Items
Arrival of the President
National Anthem
Aerial Salute
Inspection of Guard-of-Honour
21-Gun Presidential Salute
Presidential Drive Past
March-Past by Colours Party and Guard-of-Honour
Aerial Fly-Past
Parade March-Past

7.20pm
Overture
Act 1: Home is Where the Heart Belongs
Act 2: Unity in Diversity
Act 3: A New Singapore
Grand Finale:
National Songs Medley
Fireworks Display
Pledge Taking
National Anthem