Name of Ritual / Practice

Funeral band/performers

Description of Ritual/Practice

• Performers such as music bands, stilt walkers 高脚技, flower basket girls 提花篮, mascots 大头娃娃 etc were hired to perform during the procession, to ensure a grand send-off. The procession lasts till the hearse reaches the burial ground.

Who practices it? Who conducts the ritual?

Hired funeral performers or performers from aid or clan associations

Is it still practiced now?

• Long and grand funeral processions with these traditional performances are rarely seen now due to the cost of hiring performers and changes in many aid or clan associations, as well as government regulations preventing long public processions. The simplification of the funeral procession ironically runs counter to the increasing wealth amongst Chinese Singaporeans.

Other interesting notes

• Son-in-laws and other relatives can each hire their own bands or performers to participate in the procession, and this helps to signal to neighbours and the community that the deceased is respected, has a wide network of associates and a large family.

• Various clan associations that the deceased was affiliated with would provide an “umbrella team” 雨伞队 to join procession. Members from the clans or aid societies will carry umbrellas with the clans’ insignias.