PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN
CAMBODIA FOR YEAR 2009
January 01: International New Year’s Day
January 07: Liberation day on Pol Pot's
regime
February 09: Meak Bochea
In the Buddha’s day falls on the full moon day of
third lunar month, sometimes toward February. Magha
is the name of a month in the lunar calendar used in
ancient India and also Visak. The word Pujea means
signified worship, so Magh Pujea means the worship
in the month of Magh. Buddhists always celebrate
this ceremony every year, because This Day is also
known as the day of the Fourfold Assembly and the
Lord Buddha also had delivered his the Main
Discipline Discourses.
March 08: International Women's day
April 14-15-16: Cambodian New Year
A three-day celebration after the end of harvest to
mark the turn of The New Year according to the Khmer
lunar calendar. Every home is seen with attractive
decorations. shrines are full of food and beverages
given as offerings to Buddha.. Other people attend
Buddhist temples where traditional games are also
performed.
Click here for more details...
May 01: Labour Day
May 08: Visak Bochea Day - Birthday of
Buddha.
Visakha is the name of a lunar month, Puja means
worship, so Vasakha Puja Day means the day of
worship on the month of Visakha. It is the most
sacred occasion for the whole Buddhist Community, as
we know that it make three important events in the
Buddha’s life, those are: his birth, enlightenment
and Great Demise which all took place on the
full-moon of Sixth Lunar month or Vasak.
May 12: Royal Ploughing Ceremony
It is culturally celebrated to alert the nation of
the commencement of rainy season, and farmers to be
ready for farming rice by starting to plough. The
venue is a field at a wing of Royal Palace, Phnom
Penh. The scene is interesting as it depicts real
ploughing activities where cows are given a variety
of crops to eat. Based on the choices of crops eaten
by the cows, prediction are made for the coming
year.
Click here for more details...
May 13-15: Birthday of King Sihamony
During king's birthday, a giant firework display is
held close to the riverbanks in front of the Royal
Palace.
June 18: H.M. The Queen's birthday - Mother
of the king
September 24: Constitutional day
September 18-19-20: Pchum Ben Day - The Soul
Day
A religious festival to bless the souls of
ancestors, relatives and friends alike who have
passed away. Household members attend Buddhist
temples. Click here for more details...
October 29: King's Coronation Day
October 31: H.M. King Sihanouk's birthday -
Farther of the king
November 01-02-03: Water Festival
Not only it marks the reversing flow of Tonle Sap
River but also ushers in the fishing season. The
Highlight of the event is boat races over three
days. As night falls, fireworks light the sky and a
lighted flotilla of boats sail under full moon to
whom household worships. Some analysts say the
celebration is also a thanksgiving to the Mekong
River for providing the country with fertile land.
People from all walks of life gather on the bank of
the Mekong River for days and nights.
Click here for
more details...
November 09: National Independence Day
December 10: Human Rights Day
Mid December: Angkor Festival
This festival is a showcase of performing arts with
Angkor Wat as a backdrop. Performers from all over
Asia attend this festival performing great epic
stories from myths and legends, including the
Ramayana, with their own national dance costumes and
musical and rhythmic interpretations. Former King
Sihanouk often attends when he is in residence in
Siem Reap and other dignitaries come to witness this
wonderful spectacle.
Late December: Angkor Half Marathon
International Half marathon. Held at the world
renowned Angkor Wat an event which attracts
competitors from all over the world. With thousands
of spectators and the wonder of Angkor Wat, it is a
spectacular setting
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