Burmese traditional festivals are based on the traditional Burmese calendar and dates are largely determined by the moon's phase. 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)