Public Holidays 2012
January
01 International New Year’s Day
07 Liberation Day - marking the end of the Khmer Rouge regime.
23-25 Chinese New Year (year of the dragon) - This is the New Year of both the Chinese and Vietnamese lunar calendar. NOT an official holiday, but widely celebrated. Almost all shops are closed.
February 07 Meak Bochea - Buddhist Ceremony held during the full moon of the month of Meak Bochea in commemoration of the spontaneous gathering of the monks to listen to the Buddha’s preaching.March
08 International Women’s Day
April
13-17 (Mon/Tue 16th/17th) Khmer New Year - The New Year Festival spans three
days following the end of the harvest season. People clean and
decorate their houses with altars of offerings. People play many
traditional games at this time of the year.
May
01 International Labour Day.
05 (Mon 7th) Visak Bouchea Day - Birthday of Buddha.
09 Royal Ploughing Ceremony - Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal. The Royal Ploughing ceremony starts the planting season. It is performed by a man (King of Meakh) who leads the yoke and plough, and a woman (Queen Me Hour) who sows seeds. The sacred cows are led to silver trays containing rice, corn and other foods. Based on their choice, predictions are made for the coming year.
13-15 (+ Wed 16th) King’s Sihamoni’s Birthday - His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromoneath NORODOM SIHAMONI.
June
01 International Childrens Day - Some NGO’s organise
special activities for children. For the rest of the population the
day goes by unnoticed.
18 Queen’s Birthday - Her Majesty Samdech Preah Reach Aka Mohesey NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK.
September
24 Constitution Day and Recoronation Day - of H.M.
Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK.
29 Coronation Day - of King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromoneath NORODOM SIHAMONI.
31 King’s Birthday - His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK’s birthday festivities are held throughout the capital city.
November
09 Independence Day - The date Cambodia achieved
independence from France in 1953 is marked by a parade of
spectacular floats highlighting the
nation’s achievements.
27-29 Water and Moon Festival - Bonn Om Touk (Water and Moon Festival). 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.
December
10 International Human Rights Day - A festival of many
traditional dance forms.
Source: Ministry of Tourism Cambodia
