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JANUARY
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January 1 |
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The International New
Year Day |
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Public
Holiday |
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January 7 |
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Prampy Makara
Day |
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Public
Holiday |
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MACH
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March 8 |
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International Women's
Day |
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Public
Holiday |
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APRIL
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April 14-16 |
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Khmer's New
Year ( Bonn Chaul Chhnam ) |
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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. |
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MAY
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May 1 |
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International Labor Day |
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Public
Holiday |
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May 26 |
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Bonn Chroat Preah
Nongkoal |
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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 thrice circling the rice
field, the procession stops at chapel where Brahmins invoke the
protection of the Gods. |
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JUNE
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June1 |
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International Children's
Day |
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Public
Holiday |
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June18 |
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Her Majesty Preah Reach
Akka-Mohesey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk Birthday |
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Public Holiday |
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SEPTEMBER
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September
21, 22, 23 |
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Pchoum Ben Festival
( Bonn Pchoum Ben ) |
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Spirits Commemoration Festival is help
for the spirits of the dead, Bon Dak Ben offering of food to the
monk-last for 15 days of the ceremony -the full moon-is called Bonn
Pchoum 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 descendent throughout the year. |
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OCTOBER
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October 30 - November 1 |
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Birthday of His
Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk |
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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. |
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Public Holiday. |
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NOVEMBER
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November
4, 5, 6 |
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Water Festival Day
( Bonn Ohm Tuk ) |
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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. |
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November 9 |
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Independent Day |
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Cambodia
became independent State in 1953 |
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Public
Holiday |
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DECEMBER
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December 10 |
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International Human Rights Day |
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