Royal Ploughing Ceremony
12 May
The
Royal Ploughing Ceremony marks the start of the new rice planting
season and is an ancient tradition that dates back to the Sukhothai
period (1257-1350AD). The ceremony is an ancient Brahminical rite which
is carried out in the hope of providing a bountiful crop come harvest
time. Performed by a master of ceremonies known as King Meakh, he
circles a field three times whilst being followed by a woman known as
Queen Me Hour who plants seeds. Based on a number of signs read from the
Earth, King Meakh determines the weather patterns and predicts whether
or not this year will provide a good harvest.
Victory over Genocide Day
07 January
Sitting awkwardly between liberation and occupation depending on how you view history, Victory over Genocide Day commemorates the Vietnamese assault on Cambodia which brought an end to the Khmer Rouge's bloody regime. The Vietnamese troops entered Cambodia on 7 January 1979 and each year the day is marked with remembrance services, exhibitions and cultural displays.
Sitting awkwardly between liberation and occupation depending on how you view history, Victory over Genocide Day commemorates the Vietnamese assault on Cambodia which brought an end to the Khmer Rouge's bloody regime. The Vietnamese troops entered Cambodia on 7 January 1979 and each year the day is marked with remembrance services, exhibitions and cultural displays.
Independence Day
09 November
This day celebrates Cambodia's independence from France which was achieved in 1953. Festivities take place all over the country but particularly in the capital of Phnom Penh at the Independence Monument. Shaped like a lotus flower, the monument is one of the city's most easily-recognised landmarks. The King usually attends the celebrations and delivers a speech to the crowds.
Cambodian New Year
13 or 14 AprKnown as 'Chaul Chnam Thmey' in the Khmer language, the Cambodian New Year is a three-day celebration that usually falls in mid-April. The event is a grand occasion throughout the country and is celebrated with religious ceremonies at shrines and temples. It's also common to share a lavish meal with friends, families and loved ones. Celebrations typically end with a loud fireworks display.
Bon Om Touk (Water Festival),
Tonle Sap, Cambodia01 November - 30 November, Date to be confirmed
The exuberant Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) is an extremely important cultural event in Cambodia that marks the incredible natural spectacle of the reversing flow of the Tonle Sap River. The natural phenomenon occurs during the monsoon season when the water levels of the lower Mekong become so high that it reverses the flow of the Tonle Sap River, forcing the water back up on itself. This event also marks the start of the fishing season and provides a vital source of income for many rural Cambodians. Bon Om Touk begins on the full moon in November and parties, celebrations and cultural displays take place during the next three days of the festival. But the main attraction is the boat races which is a tradition that dates back to the ninth century and the reign of King Jayavarman II. The event has a great carnival atmosphere with markets and food stalls lining the banks and each evening closes with a fireworks display over the river.
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