Myanmar (Mandalay) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

Secular holiday : Held on the first waxing moon of Pyatho, the Kayin new year is almost a national holiday. Kayin communities throughout Myanrmar celebrate by wearing their traditional dress of woven tunics over red longyis and by hosting folk dancing and singing performances. The largest celebrations are held in the Kayin suburbs of Insein, just north of Rangoon, and in Hpaan, the capital of the Kayin State

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day

Secular holiday :

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Celebrates Burma's Declaration of Independence from Britain on January 4, 1948.

Culture : Monks read prayers for 8 days. They receive offerings on the 9th day.

Secular holiday : Celebrates Bogyoke Aung San's short-lived achievement of unifying Myanmar's disparate racial groups. For two weeks preceding Union Day, the national flag is paraded from town to town.

Secular holiday : A festival that lasts 2 weeks.

Secular holiday : In tribute the the country's main human resource.

Secular holiday : The lunar month of Tabaung (Taboung) brings the annual Shwedagon Festival, the largest paya pwe (pagoda festival) in Myanmar. The full-moon day in Tabaung is also an auspicious occasion for the construction of new payas and local paya festivals are held. Taboung or Tabaung is a local month fallin in February-March.

Secular holiday : Resistance or Armed Forces Day, celebrated with parades and firework. Since 1989, the Tatmadaw has made it is tradition to pardon a number of prisoners on Armed Forces Day.

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Starts the Burmese New Year. Thingyan, from the Sanskrit samkranta (fully passed over), celebrates the passage of the sun from the sign of Pisces into the sign of Aries in zodiac. As in Thailand's Songkran or in Laos, it is celebrated by throwing buckets of cold water at all passers-by. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Starts the Burmese New Year. Thingyan, from the Sanskrit samkranta (fully passed over), celebrates the passage of the sun from the sign of Pisces into the sign of Aries in zodiac. As in Thailand's Songkran or in Laos, it is celebrated by throwing buckets of cold water at all passers-by. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Starts the Burmese New Year. Thingyan, from the Sanskrit samkranta (fully passed over), celebrates the passage of the sun from the sign of Pisces into the sign of Aries in zodiac. As in Thailand's Songkran or in Laos, it is celebrated by throwing buckets of cold water at all passers-by. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Starts the Burmese New Year. Thingyan, from the Sanskrit samkranta (fully passed over), celebrates the passage of the sun from the sign of Pisces into the sign of Aries in zodiac. As in Thailand's Songkran or in Laos, it is celebrated by throwing buckets of cold water at all passers-by. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Water festival - Lasts 3 days

Secular holiday : Chicago, Saturday May 1st, 1886: 350,000 workers go on strike to call for an 8-hour working day. Industries are paralyzed nationwide. On Monday, as demonstrations go on, the police open fire. On Tuesday, Chicago is again on strike. Following a bomb launched against them, the police shoot again. 12 dead, of which 7 policemen. 8 anarchists will be condemned and executed. In 1889, the Socialist International Movement met in Paris and declared this day international workers' day . The Soviets will follow suit, just as the Nazis. In France, under the Vichy regime (1940-1944), the celebration is renamed Labour Day .

Secular holiday : Kason is a local month falling in April-May

School holidays :

cards/flowers : The second main celebration of Islam. It cele ates A aham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Muslims make their annual pilgrimage, or the Hajj , to Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia.