The observance of the Holy Week is part of the Christian celebration of the Lenten season. Traditionally, Lent lasts for forty days, coinciding with the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert. This cycle, however, is calculated differently depending on the Christian denomination. The Holy Week is the last week …
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Hari Raya Puasa is the Malay equivalent of Eid al Fitr, a major Islamic festival held at the end of the dawn-to-sunset fasting month of Ramadan. Hari Raya means “a day of celebration” and “puasa” means “fasting.” It is celebrated in Indonesia, another Muslim-majority country, as Lebaran. Although Muslims are …
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For Buddhist-majority countries in southeast Asia like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, the full moon day of the third month in the lunar calendar is a sacred event, one that venerates the teachings of Buddha, a commemoration popularly known as Makha Bucha in Thailand. Among Burmese (Myanmar) Buddhists, however, the …
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Thaipusam or Thai Poosam is a yearly holiday celebrated by the Tamil Hindus to honor Lord Murugan. This holiday is hugely anticipated and widely observed in many parts of the world where Tamil communities, big or small, can be found. Thaipusam is celebrated when the moon is full on the …
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For seekers of the ultimate adrenaline rush (or to put it bluntly, for those who wish to harm themselves), they should head to Pamplona, Spain, during the first and second week of July to participate in what has been known the world over as the Running of the Bulls. As …
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The Vietnamese New Year or Tet Nguyen Dan is quite the most important holiday and festival in the country. The name translates to “The Feast of the First Morning” and it marks the arrival of spring. Because it is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, its date changes every year …
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“Kadayawan sa Dabaw” started as a tribal festival in the 1970s to showcase the indigenous peoples’ rituals of celebration after a bountiful harvest. To entice investment into the region after a tumultuous Martial Law regime, local executives decided to bring to the fore the agricultural and natural bounty of Davao …
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The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese. It is celebrated not just in mainland China, but also around the world where Chinese immigrants have settled. It is also a major holiday for most Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. …
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Thailand’s reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was crowned king on May 5, 1950 after his elder brother, King Ananda Mahidol, died of gunshot wound on June 9, 1946. He officially assumed kingship after he finished his studies abroad and married Queen Sirikit a week before his coronation. Coronation Day 2013 …
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The longest-reigning monarch in the world, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is Ramathibodi IX, a descendant of the Chakri dynasty. Chakri Memorial Day is a day that commemorates the establishment of the current royal lineage when Ramathibodi I ascended on the throne on April 6, 1782. Military Commander Turned Ruler Thong Duang, …
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Thailand is the land of Theravada Buddhism (the oldest branch of the religion). About 95% of Thais observe the “Teachings of the Elders” (literal meaning of Theravada); hence, the thousands of Buddhist temples and shrines in Thailand. Asalha Puja is one such important occasion for Theravada Buddhists. This day commemorates …
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The Hari Raya Haji is an important holiday for the Muslims. Called “The Festival of Sacrifice”, it honors the prophet Ibrahim and his willingness to follow God’s command that he must sacrifice his firstborn son, Ishmael. The holiday also marks the end of the annual Hajj to Mecca. The lunar …
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