Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007 - December 2007 period
- 1 January - New Year's Day
- 7 January - Victory Day
- 2 February - Meak Bochea Day
- 8 March - Women's Day
- 13-15 April - Cambodian New Year
- 1 May - Labour (US= “Labor”) Day
- 2 May - Visaka Buja Day (Birth of Buddha)
- 7 May - Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony
- 13-15 May - King Sihamoni's Birthday
- 1 June - International Children's Day
- 18 June - Former Queen's Birthday
- 24 September - Constitution and Coronation Day
- 10-12 October - Pchum Ben Day.
- 23 October - Paris Peace Agreement.
- 31 October - Former King Sihanouk's Birthday.
- 23-25 November - Water Festival
- 9 November - Independence Day
- 10 December - Human Rights Day
Please note: The religious festivals are determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and are therefore variable. Public holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday are carried forward to the following working day.
Events
February: The Meak Bochea is a Buddhist Ceremony held during the full moon of the month of Meak Bochea in commemoration of the spontaneous gathering of the monks to listen to the Buddha's preaching.
April: The New Year festival takes place in the fifth solar month, known as Khè Chèt.
April 13 or 14: The auspicious occasion of the Khmer New Year is detailed in the astrological almanac and extends over three days. During the Khmer New Year Festival, youths gather to play popular traditional games such as Chaol Chhoung (throwing a ball) and Bas Angkunh (throwing brown seeds). The youths are normally divided into female and male teams to play these games. The Khmer people will gather together and visit pagodas and temples on the occasion of the Khmer New Year. Each year many residents from other provinces visit Angkor Wat to worship the powerful gods and trace their ancestors' heritage.
May: The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is used by Cambodians to foretell the future. Cambodians believe that it helps to predict a range of events including epidemics, floods, good harvests and excessive rainfall. This year, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony was held at the Veal Preahmein Square, situated across the road from the northern perimeter of the Royal Palace. Every year, Cambodian farmers anxiously await the predictions at the end of this ritualistic ceremony, which they observe with strong faith and belief. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony has been observed for many centuries at the initiative of an earlier Khmer king who had paid great attention to farming conditions of the people.
October: The Bonn Pchum Ben Festival is held to commemorate the spirits of the dead. The highlight is on the 15th day of the waxing moon during the tenth month of the Khmer calendar, called Pheaktrobotr. The festival lasts 15 days, each of which is called a day of Kan Ben. A Ben is an offering. The word of Ben is derived from Sanskrit pinda, or balls of rice to be offered to the souls of the dead. During the first 14 days, people take turns offering food to the monks of their local pagoda in the hope that their offering will reach the souls of their ancestors and friends by virtue of the monks' sermons.
November: The Water Festival or the Regatta Festival has been chronicled by the Cambodian people as well as by foreigners for a very long time. In fact, the festival is depicted in stones of the Angkorian period. It is said to be one of the most spectacular traditional events. The festival is held on the full moon in November coinciding with the rainy season and when the Tonle Sap Lake changes direction, leaving behind an abundance of fish. Multitudes mingle on the river banks in Phnom Penh to watch hundreds of brightly coloured boats and their paddlers battle in a competition for top honors. The festival is usually held for three days and festivities take place in front of the Royal Palace.
November: The Festival of Illuminated Floats consecrates Preah Changkaum Keo (the main parts of Buddha) in the Naga World and the Buddha's footprints in the fire. The Khmer people conduct this festival during the November full moon. It is believed that great merit and prosperity will be provided to the country.