Malaysia Holidays - 2008

This is the largest and most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese and and Chinese descendants around the world. Chinese New Year Festival is based on the lunar Chinese calendar, begins on first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day of the first month. The Chinese in Malaysia often hold “Open House’, where other races attend and offer greetings or Gong Xi Fa Chai’. Chinese delicacies and drinks are served and red ang pows are given to the children.

On the second day the Chinese New Year,February 4, families gather to ‘open the new year’, while at work bosses treat their employees to a dinner. In Malaysia, this is a time when Chinese bosses give bonuses even to those employees who are not Chinese.

The birthday of Prophet Muhammad is celebrated on the 12 th day of Rabi-al-Awwal in the Muslim Calendar. It also known as Maulud Nabi. Prophet Muhammad was born on 12 Rabiulawal in 570 AD. It was after his death that Muslims started celebrating his birthday.

Malaysia celebrate May 1 as Labour day,as the national holiday.Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement.Labour day celebrate to commemorate the contributions of Malaysian ordinary workers to the country.

Vesak is an annual public holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in Malaysia. Sometimes informally called Buddha birthday, it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.In Malaysia, 2011 Wesak (Vesak) Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 17th 2011.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 after the British left the Federation of Malaysia.The King's birthday is officially celebrated as a national holiday on the first Saturday of June, regardless of the officeholder's actual birthday.The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is one of the few elected monarchs in the world.

Eid ul-Fitr is the biggest holiday in Malaysia. Shopping malls and bazaars are usually filled with people days ahead of Idul Fitri, which creates a distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country, along with traffic mayhem. Many banks, government and private offices are closed for the duration of the Lebaran festivities.It is also known as the festival that marks the end of one month of fasting Ramadan. The words ‘Hari Raya’ mean 'day of celebration.

Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule, celebrated on August 31. In a wider context, it is to celebrate the formation of Malaysia.

Malaysia Day is held on September 16 every year to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963. Beginning year 2010, September 16 is a federal public holiday. It coincides with the birthday of the Yang di-Pertua of Sabah.

The Hindu community in Malaysia, celebrates Diwali festival as a symbol of triumph of good over evil. The Malaysian people call Diwali as Hari Diwali. The south Indian tradition of oil bath precedes all the rituals of Diwali Festival. The Diwali celebration includes visits to temples and prayers at household altars. Diwali is celebrated almost all over the Malaysia except in Sarawak & Federal Territory of Labuan.

After the Eid ul-Fitr, this festival most grandly celebrated by Muslims in the world. In Malaysia, it is more commonly known as Hari Raya Korban or Hari Raya Haji. Celebrated about two months after Eid ul-Fitr, on the 10th day of Zulhijah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar, it marks the end of the haj pilgrimage period (about two weeks); hence the name Hari Raya Haji (festival of the pilgrimage).

Awal Muharram is celebrated by Muslims as the day symbolises two important events in the Muslim year. Frist is start of the new month in the Muslim calendar,and the day with the Prophet Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Medina on the first of Muharram in 622AD.

The birth of Jesus Christ on Dec 25 is celebrated in Malaysia like everywhere else in the world.Christmas Day is a public holiday and is celebrated by Christians throughout Malaysia. it is a time for family and friends; hope and rejoicing; love and understanding; and giving and forgiving.