Part of a series on the |
Culture of Myanmar |
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People |
Burmese traditional festivals are based on the traditional Burmese calendar and dates are largely determined by the moon's phase.[ citation needed] Burmese culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the year, the most important being the pagoda festival. [1] [2]
Month | Festival(s) | Day | Significance | Events |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tagu (April) | Thingyan | Mid-April | Marks the beginning of the Burmese new year | Gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), water games, observation of the Buddhist Sabbath ( Uposatha), parades |
Kason (May) | Bo tree watering festival | Full moon of Kason | Marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha ( Vesākha) | Watering of the Bo tree |
Nayon (June) | Tipitaka Festival | Nationwide Pariyatti Sasana examinations for Buddhist monks [3] | ||
Waso (July) | Robe Offering Festival, [4] Dhammasekya Day | Full moon of Waso | Marks the beginning of the Buddhist lent (Vassa); anniversary of Buddha's first sermon on the Four Noble Truths | Donation of monk robes, shinbyu ceremonies |
Wagaung (August) | Taungbyon Nat Festival [5] | |||
Tawthalin (September) | Regatta Festival | Boat rowing competitions | ||
Thadingyut (October) | Festival of Lights | Full moon of Thadingyut | Marks the end of the Buddhist lent (Vassa) | Gift exchanges, gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), lighting of candles, pagoda visits |
Tazaungmon (November) | Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights [6] | Full moon of Tazaungmon | Marks the end of the rainy season | Lighting of hot air balloons by the Shan people in Shan State, and lanterns nationwide |
Kyi Ma No Festival | Mischief-making | |||
Kahtein Thingan Offering Festival | Between Thadingyut and Tazaungmon | Offering of Kathina robes to Buddhist monks | ||
Nadaw (December) | Karen New Yearn | Marks the new year of the Karen people | ||
Nat festivals [7] | Ritual feasts honoring Burmese nats (spirits) | |||
Pyatho (January) | Kachin Manaw Festival | Marks the new year of the Kachin people | ||
Tabodwe (February) | Harvest Festival [8] | Celebration of rice harvests | Cooking of htamane, a special sticky rice made with sesame seeds, peanuts and ginger | |
Tabaung (March) |
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival
[9] Nationwide pagoda festivals |
Nationwide pagoda festivals | Celebrations on Singuttara Hill |
Edited by TZWK (Dastan Fitz)
Part of a series on the |
Culture of Myanmar |
---|
People |
Burmese traditional festivals are based on the traditional Burmese calendar and dates are largely determined by the moon's phase.[ citation needed] Burmese culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the year, the most important being the pagoda festival. [1] [2]
Month | Festival(s) | Day | Significance | Events |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tagu (April) | Thingyan | Mid-April | Marks the beginning of the Burmese new year | Gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), water games, observation of the Buddhist Sabbath ( Uposatha), parades |
Kason (May) | Bo tree watering festival | Full moon of Kason | Marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha ( Vesākha) | Watering of the Bo tree |
Nayon (June) | Tipitaka Festival | Nationwide Pariyatti Sasana examinations for Buddhist monks [3] | ||
Waso (July) | Robe Offering Festival, [4] Dhammasekya Day | Full moon of Waso | Marks the beginning of the Buddhist lent (Vassa); anniversary of Buddha's first sermon on the Four Noble Truths | Donation of monk robes, shinbyu ceremonies |
Wagaung (August) | Taungbyon Nat Festival [5] | |||
Tawthalin (September) | Regatta Festival | Boat rowing competitions | ||
Thadingyut (October) | Festival of Lights | Full moon of Thadingyut | Marks the end of the Buddhist lent (Vassa) | Gift exchanges, gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), lighting of candles, pagoda visits |
Tazaungmon (November) | Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights [6] | Full moon of Tazaungmon | Marks the end of the rainy season | Lighting of hot air balloons by the Shan people in Shan State, and lanterns nationwide |
Kyi Ma No Festival | Mischief-making | |||
Kahtein Thingan Offering Festival | Between Thadingyut and Tazaungmon | Offering of Kathina robes to Buddhist monks | ||
Nadaw (December) | Karen New Yearn | Marks the new year of the Karen people | ||
Nat festivals [7] | Ritual feasts honoring Burmese nats (spirits) | |||
Pyatho (January) | Kachin Manaw Festival | Marks the new year of the Kachin people | ||
Tabodwe (February) | Harvest Festival [8] | Celebration of rice harvests | Cooking of htamane, a special sticky rice made with sesame seeds, peanuts and ginger | |
Tabaung (March) |
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival
[9] Nationwide pagoda festivals |
Nationwide pagoda festivals | Celebrations on Singuttara Hill |
Edited by TZWK (Dastan Fitz)