Etiquette and Customs in Singapore

Singapore is a multi-ethnic society, it is compose of its three major groups which are the Malays, the Chinese, and the Indians. Obviously, they are all different, even their language -- they have four national language: the Malay, Tamil, Mandarin, and English.

This nation is really impressive because even its people are different culturally and religiously, they become a developed country.

The Singapore as a  developed country would attract more tourists to go and visit the place. And if you are also an interested one, this might help you dealing with different ethnic groups in Singapore.

Here are some etiquettes and customs in Singapore from kwintessential.com.

1. Greetings
Accordingly, greetings is a strict protocol among the Singaporeans. When greeting, you have to consider what age and what ethnic group the person belongs (remember there are three: Malay, Chinese, Indian)

if the person is younger and not-so-conservative like Chinese, you can shake hands, but with the Muslims and elderly conservative Singaporeans shaking hands is not appropriate, rather bowing of the head is more sufficient. It is also the same with Indians, they can shake hands with the same sex, but nodding of the head is appropriate with an opposite sex. Usually, the eldest is the first one to be introduce.

2. Gift Giving

For Chinese:
Usually in receiving gift, they will refuse three times to show that they are not greedy. If they accepted the gift, it will not be opened in front of the giver. What's more, there are things that is not advisable to give to Chinese. Those are scissors, knives, or cutting utensils because it shows that you want to cut the relationship. Another one is flowers because it can give sickness and it is only a gift for funerals.

if you will wrapped the gift, use happy colors because it will give luck.

Malay:

Most of the Malays are Muslims so when giving a gift use only right hand or both hands if one hand cant carry the gift. Do not give a gift with pigskin, alcohol, and toy dogs to children. if planning to give food, be sure it is halal. Lastly, give a gift when you are leaving the house not when you just arrived. The gifts are not opened when recieved.

Indians:

Do not give leather products. do not wrapped the gift with color black or white rather wrapped it with red, yellow, or green. if planning to give money, it should be given in odd numbers. Use the right hand in giving a gift.

3. Titles and Names

Chinese: Traditionally, they have three names. The first one that should be written is the surname, next is the two other names.

Malay: They don't have surnames rather men connect their name to their father's name using the connector 'bin'. Women, on the other side connects their name with their mother using the connector 'binti'.

Indian: They also don't have surnames like Malays. They just place the initial of their father's name. Some Indians use nicknames because they have long names.

These were some of the things that we should know about the people of Singapore. if we know more about them, their culture and practices, then we can reach more easily, effectively to them. We could be their friends.

source :http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/singapore.html