“Hawker Culture in Singapore: Community Dining and Culinary Practices in a Multicultural Urban Context” was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 16 Dec 2020.
Hawker Culture in Singapore is an integral part of the way of life for Singaporeans, where people from all walks of life gather at hawker centres to dine and bond over their favourite hawker food, which are prepared by hawkers. Over the years, this unique combination of food, space and community has evolved into a microcosm of Singapore’s multicultural society.
Many of our hawker dishes originated from the food cultures of different immigrant groups who settled in Singapore. Over time, they have evolved to become the distinctive local dishes that we love, and form an important part of our food heritage.
Our hawkers and their repertoire of skills are central to our hawker culture. Well regarded for their mastery of the hawker culinary traditions, it is important that our hawkers’ knowledge, culinary skills and values are passed on through the generations.
Today, there are hawker centres across the island serving as “community dining rooms” where friends and families gather, interact and bond over their shared love for food. They also serve as vibrant communal spaces that promote social cohesion, moderate the cost of living and foster a common national identity based on shared experiences, values, and norms.
Hawker Culture is Singapore’s first nomination to the UNESCO’s Representative List after a series of public engagement efforts with Singaporeans. Hawker Culture was consistently highlighted as an intangible cultural heritage that best represents Singapore’s multicultural heritage, with hawker centres viewed as important community spaces.
With the inscription, it is hoped that there will be greater appreciation and recognition for our hawkers. Let us come together to celebrate, appreciate, and safeguard Singapore's Hawker Culture as a nation!