Posts tagged holiday

1 January 2009
International New Year’s Day – The celebration of New Year’s Eve has become more and more popular in Cambodia, and although not an official holiday, January 1 may as well be.

7 January 2009
Victory over Genocide Day – This national holiday commemorates Vietnamese-backed troops taking the capital from the Khmer Rouge in 1979.

9 February 2009
Meak Bochea Day – An important Buddhist holy day.

8 March 2009
Women’s Day – This United Nations-inspired holiday has become a big deal. Don’t hope to get anything done.

14, 15, 16 April 2009
Cambodian New Year – Possibly Cambodia’s most important holiday. The cities empty as Cambodians rush to spend the three-day lunar holiday with family. This is the Khmer equivalent of Chinese New Year, welcoming in the new zodiac animal. Gifts and tips are especially auspicious during April and should be accompanied with the phrase ‘Sok Sabay, Ch’nam Tmey’ (Happy New Year!)

1 May 2009
Labour Day – A relatively minor holiday. Embassies advise avoiding large labor-related gatherings and rallies falling on this day as union disputes can occasionally turn violent.

8 May 2009
Visaka Buja Day – Vesak Day, to celebrate Birth of Buddha

12 May 2009
Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony – Richly decorated royal oxen ceremonially plough the field next to the royal palace before being presented with a bovine feast of food and drink. Which dishes the animals consume and how much is analyzed by royal astrologers to predict the coming season’s weather. Get there early for photos to beat the huge crowds.

13, 14, 15 May 2009
King Sihamoni’s Birthday – The current king was crowned in 2004 after the abdication of his father, Norodom Sihanouk.

18 June 2009
Former Queen’s Birthday – Cambodians have a deep affection for the queen mother. Even so, this is a minor holiday which does not usually affect travel.

18, 19, 20 September 2009
Pchum Ben Day – Festival of the Ancestors. Buddhist tradition demands Cambodians visit many pagodas over two weeks. Food, flowers, rice and gifts are given to the monks to convey to the afterlife so the dead do not haunt the living. This is a particularly poignant celebration given Cambodia’s recent history.

24 September 2009
Constitution Day

29 October 2009
Coronation Day

31 October 2009
Former King Sihanouk’s Birthday – Retired king Sihanouk is indisputably Cambodia’s most important modern monarch and still widely regarded as divine.

1, 2, 3 November 2009
Water Festival – Millions teem into Phnom Penh from the provinces to celebrate the end of monsoon season. Dragon boats race for three days with the king overseeing. Perhaps the best time of any for meeting the people and enjoying the culture of Cambodia but the capital is impossibly crowded!

9 November 2009
Independence Day - Marks anniversary of independence from France. King Sihamoni visits Independence Monument in Phnom Penh.

10 December 2009
Human Rights Day – A United Nations-inspired holiday. Unlikely to affect travel plans but government offices are closed.