Discover the fun side of Singapore's heritage with A Lighter Side of History, through workshops, talks and performances to help you rediscover the traditions of our different communities.
2021
Documenting 'A Reclusive Ramadan'
9 June 2021
2020 was an exceptional year for Muslims in Singapore. Join Zakaria Zainal, one of the photographers who contributed to the Picturing the Pandemic exhibition, as he shares his interesting stories and challenges of photographing 2020’s ‘Reclusive Ramadan’.
Unwrapping Christmas Traditions with Chef Damian D’Silva
27 May 2021
Join heritage cuisine champion Chef Damian D’Silva as he “unwraps” the secrets of making a traditional Eurasian Christmas pie, and shares how different cultures have influenced this hearty dish, sprinkled with his memories of celebrating Christmas through the years.
The ImPECKable Rendang Workshop
22 May 2021
Join celebrity chef Charlie Tham and learn how to prepare Chicken Rendang from scratch, both in its regular form and for those with swallowing difficulties.
Dikir Raya: A Dikir Barat Showcase
22 May 2021
Watch the award-winning group Kelana Purba as they present on Dikir Barat, a musical form that's part of our intangible cultural heritage. They touch on its brief history and the unique role each performer plays before finishing off with Dikir Raya, a performance that is unique to Hari Raya.
Lunar New Year Celebrations: Lion Dance Performance
22 May 2021
Enjoy this energetic and high-spirited performance where lions dance to the beat of drums and cymbals.
Celebrating Hari Raya with Chef Bob!
22 May 2021
Join celebrity chef Sharizal Salleh, better known as Chef Bob, as he shares his unique rendang recipe and recounts his early memories of celebrating Hari Raya with his family.
InKUEHdible Workshop
15 May 2021
In this special workshop by GentleFoods, find out more about the history of kueh and the importance of food textures for those with swallowing difficulties.
My Kueh Story – A Story of Love that began with Kueh
15 May 2021
Gladys Foo of Kuehdys Foo recounts her memories of learning how to make these traditional treats through experimenting with family recipes and doing research through cookbooks and food websites.
2020
Coffee Beans for the Soul – Coffee Appreciation and Painting Workshop (On hold)
December 2020
Have you ever wondered why specialty coffee tastes different from your daily cup of kopi? What are the different characteristics of Robusta and Arabica beans?
A Storyteller's Deepavali – Storytelling by MoonShadow Stories by Kamini Ramachandran
7 November 2020
Come listen to acclaimed storyteller Kamini Ramachandran as she tells her very own story of celebrating Deepavali with family and friends.
Shining A Light on Deepavali and Ayurveda
7 November 2020
The inclusion of spices in iconic Deepavali (and other) dishes is a practice associated with Ayurveda, a form of Indian medicine which has roots in ancient Sanskrit sources. Interestingly, Ayurveda shares some common ground with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In this special programme, explore the similarities and differences between Ayurveda and TCM’s understanding of herbs and spices.
Mooncake Memories with Chuan Ji Bakery
25 September 2020
The art of making mooncakes is a time-honoured tradition that has been preserved over the years. In this edition of A Lighter Side of History, we take a closer look at Chuan Ji Bakery, renowned for its signature flaky Hainanese biscuit: the "Hainanese mooncake".
Tasting the Trade Winds with Christopher Tan
7 August 2020
Join award-winning chef and cookbook author Christopher Tan to learn more about the spices and ingredients upon which trading empires were built. These have since become irreplaceable ingredients in many of the fusion foods we enjoy today.
Growing Up with Briyani: Geylang Briyani Stall through three generations
27 June 2020
Established in 1964, Geylang Briyani Stall has been serving authentic chicken and mutton briyani for three generations at the iconic Geylang Serai market. Hear their stories as they share their experiences of running and maintaining this business legacy and just what makes their briyani so well loved.
A Tradition in Making Zongzi (Dumplings) With Chef Shih
25 June 2020
Join Chef Shih from Palate Sensations as she demonstrates the making and art of wrapping bak zhang (dumplings), which are usually eaten during Duan Wu Jie.
A Dance with my Father – An Era Dance Theatre Showcase
20 June 2020
Watch a dance performance unique to Hari Raya and hear about Era Dance Theatre's founder Osman Abdul Hamid's beginnings as a dancer in 1979. He shares about how he started Era in 1992, and how his son Dinie is still carrying on the dance legacy.
Understanding Ramadan
19 May 2020
In this interactive session, join our speakers as they unravel the significance of Ramadan, why Muslims fast and the memories associated with this holy month.