Cambodia holidays and festivals

Article Index
Cambodia holidays and festivals
Page 2
Page 3
All Pages
Short Title 1Big Title 1 :: Description 1

Here you'll find the 2010 dates of official public holidays, religious ceremonies and other festivals in Cambodia. Holidays falling on a Saturday or a Sunday are taken on the following Monday.

Plus some links to online picture albums of Cambodian festivals and more in-depth information on the celebrations

Other Holidays and Festivals

Cambodia also celebrates other holidays including: International Women's Day (8 March), International Worker's Day (1 May), Genocide Day (9 May), Vesak Bucha Day - the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha (Late May), Ploughing the Holy Furrow (Late May), Chol Vassa - Buddhist Lent (July), and International Human Rights Day (10 December).

National Day (January 7)

One of the more recent additions to the festival calendar, this day marks the end of the Khmer Rouge Regime. However for many Khmers it also marks the start of the Vietnamese regime seen as another period of foreign occupancy.

Chinese New Year (January or February)

Due to the large number of people of Chinese descent who run much of Cambodia's business enterprises; and also Vietnamese immigrant communities, the Chinese New Year is widely celebrated, especially in Phnom Penh. No Chinese festival would be complete without fireworks and this time of year is no exception with many wealthy families organizing their own private displays whigh light up the skies for all to see.

Khmer New Year's Day (Mid April)

Celebrated at the same time as the Thai New Year all over the country, this festival marks the turn of the year based on the ancient Khmer calendar and also marks the end of the harvest done during the year. Cambodians decorate their homes to please the Heaven God and many people can be seen on the streets armed with small bags of water and water pistols to bless people passing by. This festival is one of the happiest times of the year with joyous smiling faces everywhere you turn. Cambodians do recognize International New Year on 1 January but there are no celebrations then.