Beyond the Peranakan community

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Peranakan collector Alvin Yapp showcases items such as ceramics, beaded slippers and furniture in his home museum known as The Intan, but many of his guests aren’t Peranakan.

In fact, they come from all over the world. The Intan is so popular that travel review site TripAdvisor ranks it third out of 108 museums in Singapore.

This is just one of many ways Peranakan culture has spread far beyond the community. The culture is accessible, full of vibrant costumes, colorful ceremonies and lavish feasts. And nothing brings Singaporeans together like good food, as Peranakan cook Lynnette Seah will attest.

Lynnette Seah buys fresh produce for her home-cooked Peranakan dinners. /CGTN Photo

She hosts private dining events in her home, serving her take on classic Peranakan dishes such as buah keluak fried rice and bakwan kepiting and meatball soup. Meals are served in the traditional way – communal style at a tok panjang, or long table. People come from all walks of life, including Lynnette’s colleagues from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, where Lynnette is a violinist and co-concertmaster.

“What I’m trying to do is to keep the culture alive and the cuisine alive by doing the home cooking style, which, in my opinion, is the way the Peranakan culture is built upon," says Lynnette.

Adriel and Vanessa wore traditional costumes for their tea ceremony when they got married. /CGTN Photo

Fellow Peranakans Adriel and Vanessa Seah also took the chance to showcase their culture during their wedding two years ago. The couple condensed the traditional 12-day wedding ceremony into a full day of festivities, which included a Peranakan tea ceremony in traditional dress. Vanessa also wore a custom-made kebaya for their wedding dinner.

“We’re very proud that we’re Peranakan and of our traditions and we wanted to incorporate that to also show our guests who have never seen this before,” says Vanessa.