Singapore's 32nd National Day
9 August 1997
The red and white flag was first used as a symbol of statehood when Singapore gained internal self-government from the British in 1959. It was retained as the National Flag when Singapore became independent in 1965. The red half of the flag represents the universal brotherhood and equality of man, while the white half signifies everlasting purity and virtue. The crescent represents a rising young nation and each of the five stars embodies one of our nation's five ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
The ratio of the Flag is 3:2. The recommended sizes are:
1.1370 mm x 915 mm
2.1830 mm x 1220 mm
3.2740 mm x 1830 mm
The colour scheme is White and Red (Pantone 032 or Sunflower Red)
Display Period
Flying of the Singapore Flag or displaying it as part of the decorations is allowed during the National Day Celebration month and during other occasions of national rejoicing. The official National Day Celebration period is from 1st August to 31st August. However, all lightings and decorations incorporating the National Flag must be taken down by the first week of September.
Use of the Flag
The rules governing the use of the Flag are:
1.When the Flag is flown at official premises, no other flag or emblem can be placed above or to the right of it.
2.If there are other flags to be flown, these should be positioned to the left of the Singapore Flag.
3.When carried in a procession, the Flag must be held high with the flagstaff on the right shoulder of the standard bearer leading the procession.
4.The Flag, as the nation's symbol, is to be treated with respect. The use of the Flag for commercial purposes, in advertisements, as a print pattern, or as adornment is prohibited by law.
5.In Singapore, the use of the Flag is unrestricted on National Day and other occasions of national rejoicing. The Flag may be used in an appropriate and dignified manner in advertisements, prints as well as decorations during the National Day Celebration period only. However, no graphics should be superimposed on the Flag.
6.Commercial buildings are allowed to display the Flag only during the National Day display period.
For enquiries on the display or use of the flag, please write to:
Secretary to PM
Prime Minister's Office
8 Shenton Way #14-01
Treasury Building
Singapore 068811
Animated flag and part of this text downloaded from My Community-Fly the National Colours
When the first fully-elected City Council in Singapore came into being in 1957, it needed a theme song for its official functions.
The responsibility of composing it fell on Zubir Said, then a popular songwriter of film music. "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore) was first performed in 1958 at the opening of the newly-renovated Victoria Theatre.
"Majulah Singapura" was adopted as the National Anthem when Singapore attained internal self-government in 1959.
It was formally launched in December 1959 during "Loyalty Week", which marked the installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara as Singapore's first Head of State.
When Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965, "Majulah Singapura" was retained as the Republic's anthem. It is sung in Malay, the national language of Singapore.
The State Crest consists of a shield emblazoned with a white crescent moon and five white stars against a red background. Holding the shield up are a lion on its left and a tiger on its right. Below the shield is a banner inscribed with the words "Majulah Singapura".
The white crescent moon and the five stars mirror the Singapore Flag. The lion in the Coat of Arms represents Singapore, the Lion City while the tiger represents Malaysia, a recognition of Singapore's close historical ties with its neighbour.
"We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation."
The Pledge embodies our national creed and its recital during morning assemblies in schools is done with the right fist clenched over the heart to show sincerity.
The words were penned by Mr S Rajaratnam, then a Cabinet Minister, who had started his working life as a journalist.
The Lion symbolises courage, strength and excellence. Based on Singapore's national colours, the Singapore Lion is red, set against a white background. The five partings in its mane, like the five stars in the National Flag signify the five ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
A lesser known fact is that the lion's tenacious mane symbolises the nation's single-minded resolve to face any challenges and overcome any obstacles.
Singapore's National Flower is the Vanda Miss Joaquim, an orchid hybrid between the species V Teres and V Hookeriana. It was first discovered in Singapore in 1893 in the garden of Miss Agnes Joaquim (hence its name) but only chosen to be the National Flower in 1981. Each flower can bear up to 12 buds and is about 5cm wide and 6cm tall. The petals and dorsal sepal are pink with shades of violet while the lateral sepals are almost white.
Orchids have become a central feature of Singapore's National Dress in recent years and are now a common sight at both formal and informal occasions.
Singapore's Shared Values were adopted on January 15, 1993.
But the idea of institutionalising a national ideology was mentioned as early as October 1988 by Mr Goh Chok Tong, who was then First Deputy Prime Minister.
The objective was to sculpt and promote a Singaporean identity based on the country's cultural heritage, as well as attitudes and values that had served it well in the past.
The five Shared Values are: Nation before community and society above self, family as the basic unit of society, coummunity support and respect for the individual, consensus, not conflict, and racial and religious harmony.