Intangible Cultural Heritage

The inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants. There are six Intangible Cultural Heritage categories.

Learn more about Intangible Cultural Heritage

Highlights

Each of the food items on the Seder plate holds a special meaning to the Passover festival.
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Passover, and Associated Jewish Practices and Rituals

Known as Pesach in Hebrew, the Passover is one of the most important festivals of the Jewish community. An annual Jewish tradition, the Passover commemorates the end of Jewish slavery in ancient Egypt, as narrated in the Book of Exodus in the Torah.

Bahá'í faithful learns a new devotional song at a Nineteen Day Feast.
Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Nineteen Day Feast and the Bahá’í Community Life

The Bahá’í community traces the origin of their faith to Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892), whom they regard as the most recent Messenger of God. A key tenet of the Bahá’í Faith is the unity of mankind and its fundamental principles consist of the belief in the oneness of God, the oneness of humankind and the oneness of religion.

Zapin
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Zapin

Upbeat and expressive, zapin is one of the most popular dance and musical forms in traditional Malay performing arts. Elegant dance movements are choreographed to the lively melodies, which are performed using musical instruments such as the gambus (short-necked lute), accordion and rebana.

Mr Lai Yew Onn, the owner of Yew Chye Religious Goods Trading, creating the clothes of a paper human figure.
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Making of Chinese Paper Offerings

The practice of burning of Chinese paper offerings dates as far back as the Song Dynasty in China. Paper offerings are burnt for the deceased and deities particularly during occasions such as the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Flower garlands are not only used for religious rituals, but also in secular events.
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Making of Flower Garlands

Flowers play a central role in Hindu religious and cultural practices, and significant life events. Whether in temples or at home, flower garlands are frequently used in worship, which is also known as puja (“worship” in Sanskrit).

A practitioner skilfully chisels away the wood on a new signboard.
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Making of Chinese Signboards

Traditionally, signboards are hung above the entrances and doors of Chinese temples, clan associations, businesses, schools and even private homes. Usually made with wooden boards, these plaques are either carved or painted with beautiful calligraphic characters that indicate the name and use of the building or space.

To ensure that the sound produced is bright and crisp, the drumskin must be pulled tautly across the rim
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Making and Repairing of Malay Drums

Malay drums play a vital role in the various types of Malay performing arts and traditional music performances.

Kway chap is a dish comprising broad rice noodles in a broth served with a variety of braised sides. Image courtesy of Kyle Lam.
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Kway Chap

Kway chap 粿汁 is a dish of Teochew origin and was introduced to Singapore by early migrants from the Chaoshan region in China.

Lo hei and the consumption of yusheng have become a tradition in the local Chinese New Year celebrations.
Intangible Cultural Heritage

Yusheng and Lo Hei

Lo hei 捞起 (Cantonese for ‘tossing up’) refers to the communal tossing of yusheng 鱼生, a dish comprising fish slices, vegetables, spices and condiments.