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

Secular holiday : The Buddhist Lent comes to an end and all those couples who had been putting off marriage now rush into each other's arms. Monks are free to travel from kyaung to kyaung or to go on pilgrimage to holy spots such as Kyaiktiyo or Mt Popa. The Festival of Lights takes place during Thadingyut to celebrate Buddha's return from a period of preaching dhamma (Buddhist philosophy) in Tavatimsa (the highest deva realm), his way lit by devas who lined the route of his descent. For the three days of the festival all of Myanmar is lit by oil lamps, fire balloons, candles and even mundane electric lamps. Tadingyut is the name of a month falling in September-October.

Buddhism (Theravada) :

Buddhism (Theravada) :

Secular holiday : The Buddhist Lent comes to an end and all those couples who had been putting off marriage now rush into each other's arms. Monks are free to travel from kyaung to kyaung or to go on pilgrimage to holy spots such as Kyaiktiyo or Mt Popa. The Festival of Lights takes place during Thadingyut to celebrate Buddha's return from a period of preaching dhamma (Buddhist philosophy) in Tavatimsa (the highest deva realm), his way lit by devas who lined the route of his descent. For the three days of the festival all of Myanmar is lit by oil lamps, fire balloons, candles and even mundane electric lamps. Tadingyut is the name of a month falling in September-October.

Secular holiday : The Buddhist Lent comes to an end and all those couples who had been putting off marriage now rush into each other's arms. Monks are free to travel from kyaung to kyaung or to go on pilgrimage to holy spots such as Kyaiktiyo or Mt Popa. The Festival of Lights takes place during Thadingyut to celebrate Buddha's return from a period of preaching dhamma (Buddhist philosophy) in Tavatimsa (the highest deva realm), his way lit by devas who lined the route of his descent. For the three days of the festival all of Myanmar is lit by oil lamps, fire balloons, candles and even mundane electric lamps. Tadingyut is the name of a month falling in September-October.

Secular holiday : The full-moon night of Tazaungmon is an Occasion for another `festival of lights', known properly as Tazaungdaing. It's particularly celebrated in the Shan State - in Taunggyi there are fire balloon competitions. In some areas there are also speed-weaving competitions during the night young Burmese women show their prowess at weaving by attempting to produce robes for Buddha images between dusk and dawn. The results, finished or not, are donated to the monks. The biggest weaving competitions take place at Shwedagon Paya in Yangon.

Secular holiday : The full-moon night of Tazaungmon is an Occasion for another `festival of lights', known properly as Tazaungdaing. It's particularly celebrated in the Shan State - in Taunggyi there are fire balloon competitions. In some areas there are also speed-weaving competitions during the night young Burmese women show their prowess at weaving by attempting to produce robes for Buddha images between dusk and dawn. The results, finished or not, are donated to the monks. The biggest weaving competitions take place at Shwedagon Paya in Yangon.

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 : 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.

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

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 : 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.