Brunei Darussalam is a tiny country located on the east coast of Sabah ruled by a hereditary Sultan. The Sultan is an absolute monarch, and most of the country’s holidays are celebrations of the monarchy as well as the Sultan’s religion, Islam. Below is the list of Brunei public holidays 2014.
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Majority of Brunei citizens are Muslim, but this does not stop Christians from celebrating the start of the Gregorian calendar. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital, leads the country in celebrating the New Year, complete with fireworks and street parties and other frivolities associated with the event. Jerudong Park also comes alive during the New Year, so you can join the celebrations there when the crowd in the capital is too much.
Maulidur Rasul – Tuesday, 14 January 2014
One of the most important occasions in Brunei is the birth of Prophet Muhammad celebrated for 12 nights. Every night until the day of Maulidur Rasul itself, the devout gather in mosques and prayer halls throughout the country to attend mass in an event called “Dikir Maulud.” This culminates in a colorful procession on the day of the Maulid, where able-bodied males in traditional costume “baju melayu” lead the procession while the women chant “selawat,” an invocation for peace.
Chinese New Year – Friday, 31 January 2014
You would think that Brunei is solid Islam, but 11% of the country’s population are in fact Chinese with an entirely different religious affiliation. Although considered as outsiders despite continual presence in Borneo for a long time, Bruneian Chinese are a formidable minority group, driving the commercial engine of this tiny nation. The largest celebration of the start of the Lunar New Year is in Bandar Seri Begawan, with colorful lion and dragon dances in Chinese temples.
National Day – Sunday, 23 February 2014
Brunei was not always a sultanate as it is now. It was once a British colony when the entire Bornean island was itself under British protectorate. But on January 1, 1984, it gained independence from its overlord, an event that was not celebrated until February 23 of the same year when a crowd of Brunei revelers gathered at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium for a more formal celebration. Thereafter, February 23 is recognized as the National Day. On this day, the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan come alive with lights, buntings and special effects, and all the government edifices are adorned with national flags. A grand parade takes place in the National Stadium, while the mosques are also filled with devout offering “dikir.”
Israk Mikraj – Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Islamic faith is so entrenched in Brunei perhaps because awards are given out to citizens who have mastered the art of reading the scripts from Qur’an and performing the prayer call. On this day, to commemorate the completion of Prophet Muhammad’s night journey and his ascension to the heavens, Islamic authorities give out the “imam” and “bilal” awards. To further deepen their knowledge of their faith, the lay take time to reflect on the Qur’an and the importance of this event in the Prophet’s life.
Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day – Saturday, May 31 2013
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces was established on this day in 1961. To commemorate this event, members of the RBAF conduct military parades all throughout the country, while an aerial display by the Air Force take place in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The sultan, who is commander in chief, and high-ranking officials of the military and the government grace the celebrations.
Sultan’s Birthday – Tuesday, 15 July 2014
To celebrate the monarch’s birthday, his 68th this year, Bandar Seri Begawan dresses up in national colors yellow, black and red, and puts on display portraits of the sultan in every corner. People line the streets in anticipation of the sultan’s entourage, which wounds through the capital and arrives at the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Square where all government officials and heads of state of economic and political blocs Brunei is a member of, await the sultan’s arrival. It has been a tradition not only to greet leaders of these nations, but also the common citizens who eagerly await to have a brief audience with him. As befitting a monarch of a rich nation, a lavish banquet is prepared at the sultan’s palace to celebrate his birthday.
Hari Raya Puasa – Monday, 28 July 2014
One of the Five Pillars of Islam is fasting, and an entire month is devoted to this religious obligation. But only able-bodied adults are required to engage in Ramadan activities, exempting pregnant and menstruating women, the aged and the infirm. Fasting is performed from sun up to sun down, which means that people can only eat and drink before and after these hours. Throughout the day, only “halal” (permissible) thoughts and actions are allowed, so no one should engage in quarrel, malicious thoughts, intimate relations and hurtful words. Hari Raya Puasa is an occasion to purify the mind, body and spirit.
Nuzul Al-Quran – Tuesday, 15 July 2014
The Qur’an was revealed on this day, and to commemorate this important occasion in Islam, the devout, young and old, participate in “surah” contests and awards are given to those who can quote Islamic verses without fault.
Hari Raya Aidil Fitri – Monday to Tuesday, 28 to 29 July 2014
The Feast of Breaking the Fast is one joyous occasion in Muslim nations. Expect that bazaars will be teeming with shoppers as Hari Raya Aidil Fitri approaches, as people will buy new clothes and food for lavish banquets at home. Many people choose to go back to their home provinces to celebrate with their families.
Hari Raya Aidil Adha – Sunday to Monday, 5 to 6 October 2014
The story of Abraham and his son Ishmael is remembered on this day. The Feast of Sacrifice is commemorated with the slaughter of four-hooved animals to remember Abraham’s willingness to obey Allah and Ishmael’s willingness to be sacrificed. The meat of the animals is then distributed to the poor, while a portion of it is kept by the family who performed the ritual.
First Day of Muharram – Saturday, 25 October 2014
Another occasion for Muslims to fast is on the first day of the Islamic New Year. Like the Ramadan obligation, everyone is encouraged not to commit “haram” or impure thoughts or activities at the start of the year to promote purity of thoughts and actions. Despite being an important occasion in the Islamic calendar, the First Day of Muharram is a rather quiet celebration.
Christmas Day – Thursday, 25 December 2014
Brunei has a small population of Christian believers who celebrate the birth of their savior on this day. While the government respects religion outside of their own which is Islam, the celebrations of Christmas are not as ‘noisy’ as in neighboring countries with a sizable Christian population.
