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Mark Footer

Singapore

Unlike many other places in Asia, Christmas Day is an official public holiday in the city state. Not that the festivities will be limited to December 25.
Returning for a 42nd year is Christmas on a Great Street, the “great street” in question being Orchard Road. Highlights of the event, which runs until January 1, include a Christmas Village at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza that features a 14-metre-tall tree and nightly snowfall shows.
Over at Gardens by the Bay, the second annual Christmas Train Show is chugging around the Flower Dome (until January 4), taking visitors on a festive voyage across the United States, Denmark and Singapore, the locations brought to life with miniature landscapes, heritage shophouses built with recycled material and Lego creations. One of the vehicles used this year is a G-scale SMRT train specially created to mark Singapore’s 60th anniversary. Multi-hued poinsettias and Christmas trees add to the festive cheer.
On December 31, Singaporeans will be treated to day one of the Singland Festival, an indoor New Year celebration at the Marina Bay Sands featuring South Korean star Rain. Fellow singers Henry Lau, Ne-Yo and Terry Lin will feature on January 2 and 3. The new year itself will be ushered in with Marina Bay’s legendary fireworks display.
San Fernando, Philippines

Christmas is big in the Philippines, a predominantly Christian country, and nowhere more so than San Fernando, in Pampanga province.
About 65km north of Metro Manila, San Fernando is known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, thanks mostly to its Giant Lantern Festival (held yesterday), or Ligligan Parul, wherein huge, intricately designed lanterns (parols) with thousands of dancing lights compete in a light and music spectacular. The winning and other participating lanterns will be exhibited nightly at Robinsons Starmills and other San Fernando venues until early January.
Elsewhere, visitors can expect light displays and Christmas villages at events such as the Nights of Lights: Enchanted Christmas, at The Orchid Gardens Resort, and the Lakeshore Christmas Park in nearby Mexico, Pampanga.
From December 16 to 24, Catholic churches in San Fernando will hold a nine-day series of pre-dawn masses (simbang gabi), which are a major part of the Filipino Christmas tradition. On Christmas Eve, families gather for a feast after the final simbang gabi.
As the new year breaks, Manila erupts into fireworks, the best displays being sent up from the SM Mall of Asia Complex (Pasay City); Bonifacio Global City (Taguig City); Ayala Avenue (Makati City); Okada Manila (Parañaque); and Rizal Park.
Taipei, Taiwan

December 25 is a public holiday in Taiwan, but not as an observance for Christmas; coincidentally, Constitution Day falls on the same date.
Nevertheless, there’s many a ho-ho-ho at New Taipei City Christmasland (until December 28), Taiwan’s largest Christmas celebration, which is this year themed “Circus Carnival” and transforms the Banqiao district into a winter wonderland.
Centred on Citizen Square and Banqiao Station – and a towering Christmas tree – the event is known for a 3D light show projected onto the New Taipei City Hall facade and features themed light zones and carnival rides.
There will be a Christmas flea market on December 20, the Wind Music Carnival on December 25, and the “New Vogue! New Fashion” glamour gala on December 28.
New Year’s Eve in Taipei is dominated by the Taipei 101 countdown, before which, beginning at 7pm, the “Taipei’s Most High New Year City – 2025 Countdown Concert” will take place in the City Hall Plaza.
Taichung, a little further down the west coast of Taiwan, is also known for its seasonal festivities, including a Christmas carnival, markets, the Lishan-Guguan Light Art Festival (until January 11), and a New Year countdown, to be held at Taichung Central Park.


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The Christmas Train Show returns to Singapore’s Gardens By The Bay. Photo: Shutterstock

The Giant Lantern Festival is a regular Christmas attraction in San Fernando, in the Philippines. Photo:Getty Images

Banqiao district, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Photo: Shutterstock

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Travel

Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia


Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia.


A guide to Christmas celebrations in Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Singapore

Christmas markets, fireworks and giant lanterns are all in store if you’re seeing in the season elsewhere in Asia

Singapore