Cambodia Events and Public Holiday

JANUARY

January 1 - The International New Year Day - Public Holiday
January 7 - Prampy Makara Day - Public Holiday

MARCH

March 8 - International Women's Day - Public Holiday

APRIL

April 14-16 - Khmer's New Year (Bonn Chaul Chhnam) - Khmer New Year spans four days after the end of harvest. It's a time of merriment where Cambodia spring clean their homes, make offerings and play traditional games such as Boh Angkunh, Chaol Chhoung, Leak Kansaeng, and tug of war.

MAY

May 1 - International Labor Day - Public Holiday

May 25 - Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal - The Royal Ploughing ceremony or the opening of the Sacred Furrow, is the first of the traditional agrarian festivals. In times past, on an auspicious day determined by palace astrologists, the King traced the first furrows in the Capital's sacred rice field, inaugurating the Ploughing season.

Today, the ritual is performed by a man, King of Meakh, who leads the yoke and plough, follow by a woman, Queen Me Hour, who sows the seeds. After circling the rice field three times, the procession stops at chapel where Brahmins invoke the protection of the Gods.

May 29 - Visak Bochear Day - Public Holiday

JUNE

June1 - International Children's Day - Public Holiday
June18 - Her Majesty Preah Reach Akka-Mohesey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk Birthday - Public Holiday

OCTOBER

October (1st week) - Bonn Phchoum Ben - Spirits Commemoration Festival is help for the spirits of the dead, Bon Dak Ben offering of food to the monks-lasts for the 15 days of the ceremony-the full moon-is called Bonn Phchum Ben, the collection of the Bens (offerings). During this celebration, if departed souls did not find their families making offerings at a pagoda, it is believed that the soul is cursed and will bother the descendants
throughout the year.

October (2nd week) - Bonn Kathen - A religious festival where people donate clothingto monks. This act is said to bring spiritual merit to both the monks and the donors. When do they get to wear the clothes?

October 30 - November 1 - Birthday of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk - Festivities are held throughout the capital city. A grand fireworks display is held close to the river banks in front of the Royal Palace ground. - Public Holiday.

NOVEMBER

November 9 - Independence Day - Cambodia became independent State in 1953 - Public Holiday

November 10 - 12 - Bonn Ohm Tuk - Phnom Penh's biggest event is a three-day festival not only marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap river but ushers in the fishing season as well. The highlight of this event is the boat race in which more than 200 teams compete over three days for the top prize. As night falls, fireworks light the sky and a lighted flotilla of boats sail under the full moon. The actual date of the event varies depenging on the lunar cycle.

With Phnom Penhs population increasing by several hundred thousand, it is an event itself working your way through the crowd on the riverfront.



Cambodia Phnom Penh

	Cambodia Events and Public Holiday JANUARY January 1 - The International New Year Day - Public Holiday January 7 - Prampy Makara Day - Public Holiday MARCH March 8 - International Women's Day - Public Holiday APRIL April 14-16 - Khmer's New Year (Bonn Chaul Chhnam) - Khmer New Year spans four days after the end of harvest. It's a time of merriment where Cambodia spring clean their homes, make offerings and play traditional games such as Boh Angkunh, Chaol Chhoung, Leak Kansaeng, and tug of war. MAY May 1 - International Labor Day - Public Holiday May 25 - Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal - The Royal Ploughing ceremony or the opening of the Sacred Furrow, is the first of the traditional agrarian festivals. In times past, on an auspicious day determined by palace astrologists, the King traced the first furrows in the Capital's sacred rice field, inaugurating the Ploughing season. Today, the ritual is performed by a man, King of Meakh, who leads the yoke and plough, follow by a woman, Queen Me Hour, who sows the seeds. After circling the rice field three times, the procession stops at chapel where Brahmins invoke the protection of the Gods. May 29 - Visak Bochear Day - Public Holiday JUNE June1 - International Children's Day - Public Holiday June18 - Her Majesty Preah Reach Akka-Mohesey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk Birthday - Public Holiday OCTOBER October (1st week) - Bonn Phchoum Ben - Spirits Commemoration Festival is help for the spirits of the dead, Bon Dak Ben offering of food to the monks-lasts for the 15 days of the ceremony-the full moon-is called Bonn Phchum Ben, the collection of the Bens (offerings). During this celebration, if departed souls did not find their families making offerings at a pagoda, it is believed that the soul is cursed and will bother the descendants throughout the year. October (2nd week) - Bonn Kathen - A religious festival where people donate clothingto monks. This act is said to bring spiritual merit to both the monks and the donors. When do they get to wear the clothes? October 30 - November 1 - Birthday of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk - Festivities are held throughout the capital city. A grand fireworks display is held close to the river banks in front of the Royal Palace ground. - Public Holiday. NOVEMBER November 9 - Independence Day - Cambodia became independent State in 1953 - Public Holiday November 10 - 12 - Bonn Ohm Tuk - Phnom Penh's biggest event is a three-day festival not only marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap river but ushers in the fishing season as well. The highlight of this event is the boat race in which more than 200 teams compete over three days for the top prize. As night falls, fireworks light the sky and a lighted flotilla of boats sail under the full moon. The actual date of the event varies depenging on the lunar cycle. With Phnom Penhs population increasing by several hundred thousand, it is an event itself working your way through the crowd on the riverfront. Phnom Penh Events


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