January 1
International New Year's Day
Public Holiday
January 7
Bonn 7 Makara
Public Holiday
March 8
International Women's Day
Public Holiday
APRIL 13-15
Bonn Chaul Chhnam
The New Year’s Festival spans three days following the end of the harvest season.
The Khmer people clean and decorate their homes with altars for offerings.
Then they go to the pagodas and play traditional games.
May 1
International Labour Day
Public Holiday
May 10
Visaka Bochea Day
Buddha's Birthday. Public Holiday
MAY 25
Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal
The Royal ploughing Ceremony is the inauguration of the planting
season. The ploughing ceremony is performed by a man, King of Meakh,
who leads the yoke and plough, followed by a woman, Queen Me Hour,
who sows seeds. After thrice circling the rice field, the
procession stops at a chapel where Brahmins invoke the protection
of the Gods. The sacred cows are unharnessed and guided to seven
silver trays containing rice, corn and other foods. Based on their
choice, predictions are made for the coming year.
June 18
Her Majesty Preah Rach Akka-Mohesey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk's Birthday
Public Holiday
SEPTEMBER 24
Bonn Rotha Thomanunh
Constitution Day
Public holiday
OCTOBER 11-13
Bonn Dak Ben and Bonn Pchoum Ben
The Spirits Commemoration Festival is held for the spirits of the dead. Bonn Dak Ben - the offering of food to the Buddhist monks - lasts for 15 days. The 15th day of the ceremony (full moon) is called Bonn Phcoum Ben, the collection of the bens (offerings). During this celebration, if departed souls do not find their family making offering at the wat (Buddhist monastery) it is believed that the soul is cursed and will bother the descendent throughout the year.
OCTOBER 23
Paris Peace Agreement
Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia
Public holiday
OCTOBER
Bonn Kathin
The 29-day religious festival is marked by town and country folks marching in procession to the wat where the monks are waiting to change their old saffron robes for new ones offered during the festival. The ceremony brings spiritual merit to both lay people and the monks.
OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 1
HM the King’s Birthday
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk Varman, King of Cambodia, was born on 31 October 1922 in Phnom Penh. Every year his birthday is celebrated in regal fashion and the entire nation joins in to honor their King. The Royal Palace is sometimes open to the public for this occasion, festivities take place throughout the capital and a grand fireworks display is organized at sun down on the river near the Palace.
NOVEMBER 9
Independence Day
Independence Day, the date Cambodia achieved independence from France in 1953, is marked by a parade with floats and spectacles highlighting the nation’s achievements.
NOVEMBER 24-26
Bonn Om Touk
The Water Festival, which ushers in the fishing season and marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap river (Great Lake), is a spectacle to behold. At the height of the rainy season, the water in the Mekong river flows with such power that it backs up into the Tonle Sap river, forcing the Tonle Sap to reverse its current and begin flowing northward to the Great Lake. As the water level begins to subside, the current reverses again. The festival draws tens of thousands of people to the river banks to watch longboats races, fireworks and a lighted flotilla of boats under the full moon.