Coming to Singapore with high expectations for the food is one of the most reasonable things a traveler can do. There is an extraordinary food culture here, and like everything else in Singapore, part of its greatness lies in its multiplicity. The city-state is composed of citizens who have origins in India, China, and Malaysia, among other places, but these are the ethnic groups who are best represented in the cuisine. It’s possible, however, to find just about anything you’re looking for in town, with a restaurant variety that is simply stunning.

There are many customs that are owned by each ethnicity, and general customs that apply to most every situation. In most cases, it’s easy enough to simply wait until you can observe how things are done, and then just join in. It probably doesn’t take very long, however, to see that there are some customs that are more mystifying than others, and plenty of visitors raise their eyebrows at the notion of offering food for the Dead. There are a number of cultures who practice this, and feeding the ancestors after they’ve passed over is found all over the world. Ancestor worship is, after all, the most common religion on earth, although it is not formally organized, being a part of many other more formal religions.

One of the more elaborate festivals for the Dead happens here at the beginning of April. Qing Ming is a Chinese festival that honors the Dead in the cemetery with joss sticks, candles, and food offerings. It is celebrated 104 days after the Winter solstice, or 14 days before the Spring equinox, so its placement absolutely suggests that it is a tradition that has roots deep in folk culture. It is very common for families to cook their own food for their deceased loved ones , preparing favorite meals when they were among the living. This isn’t a public event, and an invitation to participate, then, is one that would have great significance, and shouldn’t be missed.

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