Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has made history when it’s recorded as the world’s oldest and most sophisticated pagodas and temples that have caught the attention of many travelers across the globe. Despite the thousand years of being under the rule of different thrones being politically unstable, the country has opened her arms to the world that once before was an off the limits destination. This country is now one of the best attractions in Southeast Asia showcasing the wonders of its temples and pagodas along with the best places to visit and the unique culture of the local people.

If you are a Buddhist or wanted to learn and know the ways and teachings of Buddha, you are never wrong in visiting the country. For more than several folds of centuries, Buddhist tradition and culture remained rich and surviving. Also, one will greatly appreciate how Myanmar is unified with almost 135 different ethnic groups.

Apart from the world’s famous pagodas and temples, Myanmar is likewise a country you would want to spend your holidays with. From exotic and spicy food to best islands and beaches, you would also experience how friendly, welcoming and hospitable the people of this country are. If you are convinced to visit Myanmar, try to know about its public holidays and get your reservation earlier.

Below are the country’s official Public Holidays:

Independence Day – January 4, Sunday

Myanmar is celebrating the declaration of its independence from British rule in 1948. Several affairs and sports activities are prepared to commemorate this occasion which marks as one of the most important celebrations in the history of Myanmar. Parades are also held in Naypwidaw, the capital city of Myanmar while cultural program are held across nation. Educational facilities are holding programs where teachers and students sing patriotic songs while most people are wearing traditional outfit. The national flag is also hoist in almost institutions to mark the celebration of this commemorative event.

Union Day – February 12, Thursday

The most powerful officials of Myanmar led by General Bogyoke Aung San signed the Panlong Agreement in 1947 which depicts the democratic government and making the country unified amidst racial diversities and discriminations. Yearly celebration includes around 7000 people from different tribes who participate in actions and movements. Town after town, the national flag is paraded two weeks prior to the celebration and the festival is held where the flag finally rests.

Peasant’s Day – March 2, Monday

Colorful fireworks display and civic parades are held to commemorate this day. The annual celebration every 2^nd of March is to honor the peasants who composed the biggest sector in helping the development of the country. Around the country, leaders are reaching about regarding reforms in peasantry and talk issues regarding the development of the agricultural sector. Also, many private companies are closed with families visiting pagodas and temples with cultural shows nationwide.

Full Moon of Tabaung – March 5, Thursday

Known as Magha Puja in the Buddhist community of Laos, Cambodia and Thailand is also an important festival in Myanmar. The celebration begins with pagoda festival until the full moon. Buddhist followers proceed to temples. This is likewise a day for merit making activities where followers only do good, purify their mind and spirit as well as not to commit any form of sin.

Armed Forces Day (Tatmadaw) – March 27, Friday

This day marked the removal of Japanese power from Myanmar in 1945 with the aid of the Allied Forces during the World War II. This commemorative day is now celebrated with parades and fireworks across the country. It is also a tradition since 1989 to give pardon to some prisoners.

Thingyan Water Festival – April 13-16, Monday-Thursday

This is one of the highest Buddhist celebrations culminating in the New Year. The festival normally falls in mid-April and lasted for four days. The throwing or dousing of water is a distinguished feature of the festival. There are water-spraying stations which are set known as pandals. Religious activities are also observed with Burmese girls perform cultural dances during the end of the celebration.

Myanmar New Year – April 17, Friday

This celebration marks the end of hot and summer months. Every Burmese is getting wet and happy during this day. Before the New Year, people are throwing and dousing water to drench away bad luck from the previous year. Monks are hosting special feasts. The day is also celebrated by eleasing birds and fishes as acts of merit.

Labor Day – May 1, Friday

Anywhere in the world, this occasion is celebrated to give honor to laborers. Public offices are closed with a few private companies are open during this day. There are some demonstrations on the streets urging for labor reforms while this has become a good day for some to take a rest and enjoy time with the family and gatherings.

Full Moon of Kason or Buddha’s Birthday – June 1, Monday

This is a very significant celebration for Buddhist followers. This is the very day that Gautama Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and passed away. As an assurance that Buddha is coming again is the arousal of the Bodhi tree out from the earth. Buddhist people usually celebrate this important day by pouring scented water after they are done with the grand procession in pagodas or at the Bodhi tree. They likewise observe this day through meditation, merit making deeds as well as offering incense, flowers, water and light on the images of Buddha.

Full Moon of Waso or the Beginning of Buddhist Lent – July 1, Wednesday

This celebration commemorates the day where Buddha preached the first sermon to Five Disciples. In Myanmar calendar, Waso is the fourth month where Buddhist Lent begins and lasted for three months. Buddhist people spend the lent season by reciting the Buddhist chant, making donations, not drinking alcohol and observing meditation. Changing of abode or marriage is frowned upon within the lent period. Offering of alms, robes and other essentials to the Sangha are done by laymen and laywomen to gain merits.

Martyr’s Day – July 19, Sunday

In 1947 of July 19, the nation’s leader, Prime Minister Bogyoke Aung San and seven other comrades were assassinated. This day is commemorated through ceremonies led by high ranking officials in the Martyr’s Mausoleum in Yangon to pay respect to them. Ceremonies include the recital of the Marty’s Day poem.

Full Moon of Thadingyut or the End of Buddhist Lent – October 27, Tuesday

Based on the Myanmar calendar, Thadingyut is the seventh month which marked the end of the Buddhist lent. This is generally a three-day festivity: before, during and after the day of the full moon where it is believed that Buddha descends from heaven. Stage shows, movie shows and musical plays are held across the country during the festival. Food festivals are also present showcasing Myanmar’s traditional foods and a lot of staffs at the streets where people can shop. Buddhist people pay respect to monks by visiting monasteries and pagodas and offer them food. Balloons and firecrackers are also played by people.

Full Moon of Tazaungmon – November 26, Thursday

This occasion marks the end of the rainy season. This day is also known as the Festival of Light where the lighting of hot balloons in Shan State and lanterns nationwide occurs. During the night of the festivity, some areas in Myanmar are holding speed-weaving competition participated by Burmese women. They offered the finished or unfinished weaving product to the monks eventually.

National Day – December 8, Thursday

This day is the Anniversary of the first students in university who strike against British policies in 1920. Across Myanmar, this day is celebrated through food festivals and gatherings purposively to discuss about reforms. Traditional and cultural programs are also held.

Christmas Day – December 25, Friday

Despite Myanmar as a Buddhist nation, Christmas is also celebrated. Like any other nations in the world, here are also Christians living in the country. They celebrate this religious festivity through colorful Christmas decorations and lights. Also, this is a time for family gatherings during the Christmas eve with exchanging or giving gifts.

Great things can be experienced especially during holidays at Myanmar. Experience the best of Myanmar holidays and gain extremely unique and memorable moments.

Photo by Scott Edmunds 

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Below is the list of Myanmar public holidays 2014 which surprisingly, leave plenty of businesses open, except for banks, and except when Maha Thingyan is celebrated (when everything is shuttered and it’s all just fun!). As with any event relying on the local sighting of the new moon, Buddhist festival dates may still be moved until confirmed by the local authorities.

Independence Day – Saturday, 4 January 2014

On this day in 1948, Myanmar gained independence from Britain. To mark this day, sports events, concerts and community fairs are held in most major cities in Myanmar, along with cultural performances that highlight the traditions of Burma before it fell under British rule. Events sponsored by the government are not as widely celebrated.

Union Day or Unification Day – Wednesday, 12 February 2014

On this day in 1947, Bogyoke Aung San (father of Aung San Suu Kyi) led the Myanmar state representatives into a unification meeting called the Panglong Conference. In this meeting, state representatives agreed to enter into the Union of Burma, a transitional government headed by Gen. Aung San. The Union was formed in order to seek independence from British control, which eventually took place a few months after. Now that the Myanmar junta has welcomed (positive) changes, certain sectors of the Burmese society particularly those marginalized, can now openly celebrate with flag-raising events and even military parades.

Peasants Day – Sunday, 2 March 2014

As an agro-based economy, Myanmar has a large population of ‘peasantry’ engaged in farm work and supportive sectors. On this day, the peasants are addressed and honored by the president in mainstream broadcast and print media.

Full Moon of Tabaung – Friday, 7 March 2014

The Full Moon of Tabaung is the Burmese equivalent of (Thailand) Makha Bucha when 1,250 Buddhist disciples gathered spontaneously before Buddha to hear his sermons. Tabaung refers to the last month in the Burmese calendar, which happens to coincide with the Gregorian month of March. On this day, people celebrate by building sand stupas and offering alms to the monks. This is also the start of the season, which coincides with post-harvest, when pagoda festivals take place in major monasteries like that of Shwedagon, Kek-Ku and Inn-Daw-Gyi.

Armed Forces Day – Thursday, 27 March 2014

On this day, members of the Armed Forces of Myanmar perform military parades in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, in honor of the servicemen, both fallen and in active duty, and as an opportunity to showcase the country’s military might. Apart from speeches given by the commander-in-chief and other high-ranking military officials, there are no flag-hoisting events taking place in Yangon and anywhere else, as the day’s celebrations are often subdued and limited to the capital. This year, iconic leader and daughter of the general who established the Myanmar Armed Forces, Aung San Suu Kyi, attended the Nay Pyi Taw celebrations.

Water Festival (Maha Thingyan) – Sunday to Wednesday, 13 to 16 April 2014

The Burmese equivalent of spring festival falls in the same month as the celebrations of the Burmese New Year Water Festival, or Maha Thingyan, the most important festival in Burma. Cultural performances and legendary floats feature prominently in the festivities, although it is the water dousing up to the second day before last that takes the spotlight. In this respect, Maha Thingyan is similar to Thailand’s Songkran.

Myanmar New Year – Thursday, 17 April 2014

Maha Thingyan culminates on the celebrations of Myanmar New Year. On this day, young people visit their families and offer water in a terra cotta pot and shampoo to their elders, sometimes performing hair-washing using traditional beans and bark. This is also the time when devout Buddhists make food offerings in various places, listen to Dharma teachings in monasteries, and give alms to monks and to those who join the New Year festivities.

Labor Day – Thursday, 1 May 2014

On this day, Myanmar joins the international community in honoring the social and economic contributions of the workers to their society.

Check out the best hotel offers when planning your trip to Myanmar.

Full Moon of Kason – Monday, 5 May 2014

The Full Moon of Kason is more famously known as Vesak, or the day of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. On this day, Burmese Buddhists take part in the ceremony which involves the watering of the Bodhi tree in various pagodas throughout the country, the sacred tree under which Buddha was said to have achieved enlightenment.

Martyrs’ Day – Saturday, 19 July 2014

After the Panglong Conference in February, the transitional government of the Union of Burma headed by Bogyoke Aung San and other leaders decided to secede from British control and were working to achieve independence when they were assassinated on this day in 1947. The major events take place at the Martyrs Mausoleum underneath the Shwedagon Pagoda where wreath are laid to the tombs of General Aung San and eight others who were killed on that same grim event. The Myanmar junta’s relaxed grip on censorship lately has opened the mausoleum to the public where they could pay tributes to the fallen leaders of the Union of Burma who worked to achieve independence which they themselves did not live to see.

Full Moon of Waso (Beginning of Buddhist Lent) – Saturday, 2 August 2014

The Full Moon of Waso coincides with the start of the Buddhist Lent when monks would gather in monasteries and retreat centers all over Myanmar to reflect on the teachings of Buddha and engage in meditations. The Full Moon of Waso also marks the start of the monsoons, so the monks spent the rest of the season, usually three months long, in monasteries. The devout take this time to offer monks new robes, and gather wild flowers to be offered in pagodas.

Full Moon of Thadingyut (End of Buddhist Lent) – Thursday, 30 October 2014

The Full Moon of Thadingyut marks the end the Buddhist Lent and is celebrated in a similar fashion to Deepavali or the Festival of Lights. Houses, monasteries, public buildings and streets are illumined on the occasion of this festival, to mark and welcome the descent of Buddha from the heavens to his earthly abode. It is also customary for young people to pay homage to their elderly and to seek forgiveness from them for perceived or actual transgressions.

Tazaungmone Full Moon Day – Friday, 28 November 2014

On this day, Buddha returned back to earth after his visit to his mother’s reincarnated spirit in the heavens. Lighting candles to welcome Buddha back also marks this occasion, but the more prominent event is the robe-weaving activity that happen overnight, a tradition that was started when Buddha’s stepmother offered him a robe she had made. A more compelling sight is when people send up fire balloons to commemorate a prince’s journey to become Buddha.

National Day – Monday, 8 December 2014

The National Day is usually on the 10th day after the full moon of Tazaungmone, and this commemorates the start of bitter student protests against British policies. The National Day has not been openly celebrated in Burma for a long time (as the Myanmar junta policy is to request permission for any gathering of a large number of people) but amidst waves of political reforms, people have begun to gather, celebrate their cultural heritage and share food in celebration of this day.

Christmas Day – Thursday, 25 December 2014

Despite the country’s steep adherence to Theravada Buddhism, Myanmar celebrates the birth of the Christian savior, albeit with a subdued atmosphere. Christmas services are held on the day itself, and only in (infrequent) chapels that have (small) Christian populations.

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Take for instance Fodor’s 7 Affordable Destinations for 2013. There certainly are plenty of places in Southeast Asia where a dollar goes a long, long way, and Cambodia is one of them. Throw in ancient archaelogical wonders like Angkor Wat and you have got a winner.

Then you have Conde Nast saying in its Destinations to Watch in 2013 that Maldives is out, Philippines is in! Those in the loop already know this, but given the massive campaign of the Department of Tourism that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”, the country is indeed poised to invade the global beach scene.

Just 7 of the 7,107 islands (Photo by The Wandering Angel)

And Lonely Planet has a word to say: Palawan. Also named one of the Hot 20 Destinations of 2012 by National Geographic, Palawan is indeed revving up for the influx of tourists that has been arriving and and are yet to come. Despite the fact that it can get elbow-to-elbow when visiting the now world-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River, Palawan still has plenty to offer. There’s El Nido, Coron, San Vicente, Port Barton (Sabang), and Balabac Island. And if you dare to explore the 7,000 others, the list could as well be endless.

In its Best Trips for 2013, National Geographic names Myanmar, along with world-favorite Indonesia, in the top 20. Indonesia, of course, needs no introduction, but it is worth mentioning that Raja Ampat, off the coast of West Papua, is the oceanic sister of the Amazon. Philippines has it too (Tubbataha Reefs) and so does Malaysia (Sipadan).

But Burma has a different appeal.

Largely ignored by mainstream travelers for the longest time, the country once named Burma took the spotlight once again when its homegrown champion of democracy, the house-arrested Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, earned a seat in the parliament. Today, because of its reclusion from outside influences, places outside Yangon and Mandalay seem frozen in time. Get ready for pagoda fatigue as you stroll along the banks of Ayeyarwady River.

Travel and Leisure still maintains that Philippines is more than just a side trip. You must have already heard countless times about Boracay, but what about the highlands of Nepal? Not technically Southeast Asian, Nepal is one of the favorite circuits of pedal pushers and summit seekers. Time to get to know it more this year.

The post The Big Guys Have Spoken: Southeast Asian Heavyweights of 2013 appeared first on .

And it doesn’t stop there. Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia all have their cheapie fares that tempt the palate without burning a hole through the wallet. Case in point:

Southeast Asia Recap: Food and Transport | A Wandering Sole

Even this foodie acknowledges that Southeast Asia is where the cheapest of street foods can be found, from $1 red curry stuffed with squid and shrimp in the streets of Bangkok to the less than $2 “pho bo” in the stalls of Hanoi.

10 Great Meals Under $2 from Around the World | Uncornered Market

In Yangon in Myanmar, street food is literally on the street. Sometimes squeezed between parking cars, like this.

In Hanoi, French baguettes are piled high (precariously) like this, so it’s grab-and-go.

Pork satay in Din Daeng in Bangkok are grilled right on the spot and served smoking hot!

Street food in Bangkok (Photo by NeilsPhotography)

You want to see how they’re done? This video is instructional.

So the next time you head to Southeast Asia and worry if your $10 daily budget will fit, try to find a room for $5 or less, and you won’t worry much if the rest of your meager budget will buy you a meal.

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