January 07
Victory Day over Genocide

March 08
International Women's Day

April 14-16
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

May 15
Visaka Bochea Day
Birthday of Buddha.

May 19
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
The Royal Ploughing ceremony announces the start of the planting season. The plonghing is performed by a man, (the?) King, who leads the yoke and plough, followed by a woman, the (the?) Queen, who sows seeds.

June 01
International Childrens Day

June 18
Queen’s Birthday
Samdech Preah Mohesey Norodom Monineath Sihanouk’s Birthday

September
This is a 30-day religious festival when town and country folks march in procession to the pagoda where the monks are waiting to change their old saffron robes for new ones offered during the festivals. The ceremony brings spiritual merit to both lay people and the monks.

setptember 24-26
Bonn Pchoum Ben Day, Spirits Commemorations is held on 18 September for the spirits of the dead.

September 24
Constitution Day and Re-coronation Day of H.M. Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk

October 23
Paris Peace Accord Day

Oct 30-31, Nov 01
King Norodom Sihanouk’s Birthday
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, was born on 31 October 1922 in Phnom Penh.

November 07-09
Water festival (is this the same water festival mentioned above??)
It commemorates the great naval warriors of the past. It is also an occasion of thanksgiving to the water. The Water Festival, (is this meant to be here or under “Water Festival” below?) which ushers in the fishing season and marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap River, 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. When the upstream flow subsides, the current then reverses again and flows downstream. The festival draws tens of thousands of people to the riverbanks to watch long boat races, fireworks and a lighted flotilla of boats under the full moon.

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.

December 10
United Nations Human Rights Day
A festival of many traditional dance forms.