Cambodia many holidays?

It is not matter of the country, foreigners will complain always about the big number of holidays this country has. I listened such complain from foreigners in Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Thailand and Philippines. An Italian will say that Cambodians have many holidays, but it is exactly what foreigners in Italy said about Italy.

I feel that saying it, the foreigner puts himself in a certain economical superiority over the country he is in. In conclusion, he is meaning ‘look how lazy is this people.’ At the same time, it is logic that many foreigners will not understand the meaning of the holidays, because it is not his country. If he does not feel real attaché to the nation, its celebrations, traditions and history will mean little, then he will not get why the country has to stop for a particular tradition.

Checking the number of public holidays of Cambodia and comparing it with other nations, I find it nearly normal. Maybe Cambodia is among the countries with the longest list of free days in the year for civil or religious purposes. Let us see the comparison table of financialcalendar.com:

Highest

Lowest

Country

No. of holidays

Country

No. of holidays

1. Nepal

23.0

1. Bosnia

2.7

2. India

21.8

2. Mongolia

6.2

3. Iran

20.9

3. Uzbekistan

6.3

4. Myanmar

19.2

4. Serbia

6.6

5. Sri Lanka

18.2

5. Cuba

6.7

Cambodia has 22 holidays, according with the following table:

No

Date

Event

Notes

1 1rs Jan New Year The International New Year (Gregorian calendar) 2 7th Jan Victory from Genocide Day The fall of the Khmer Rouge Regime. 3 About February Meak Bochea Commemorates the spontaneous gathering of monks to listen to the Buddha’s preaching. 4 8th March International Women Day International day for women. 6 April 13 – 15 Cambodian New Year Chaul Chnam Thmey. 7 April or May Visaka Bochea Buddhist observance commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. 8 1rst May Labor Day 9 In May Royal Ploughing Ceremony Pithi Chrat Preah Neangkol, the start of the planting season. 12 May 13 – 15 HM the King’s Birthday Commemorates the birthday of King Norodom Sihamoni. 13 June 18 HM the Queen Mother’s Birthday Commemorates the birthday of The Queen Mother. 14 24th Sept Constitution Day Celebrates the signing of the Cambodian constitution by King Sihanouk. 15 September or October Pchum Beng A Cambodian religious holiday when many Cambodian Buddhists pay their respects to deceased relatives by cooking meals for monks and making offerings to the ancestors. It is also known as “Ancestor’s Day”. 16 29th October Coronation Day Commemorates the coronation of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni. 17 31srt Oct. HM the King Father’s Birthday Commemorates the birthday of King Father Norodom Sihanouk. 18 9th Nov. Independence Day Celebrates Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953. 21 About November Water Festival Bon Om Thook. Boat races on the Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh celebrate the time when the water in the river reverses course. 22 10th December Human Rights Day

Let us see comparative tables from other nations:

Country

Holidays

Finland

14

Brazil

10

France

10

Lithuania

12

Argentina

11

Estonia

10

Malta

14

Austria

13

Greece

12

Cyprus

15

Slovenia

16

Spain

14

Sweden

11

Denmark

10

Slovakia

15

Luxemburg

10

Venezuela

11

Germany

10

Portugal

12

Colombia

18

Hungary

10

Bulgaria

12

Italy

11

Leetonia

11

Check Republic

11

Belgium

10

Chile

15

Ireland

9

The Netherlands

8

United Kingdom

8

Poland

10

Rumania

7

México

8

The general average is 10 days; therefore, Cambodia is among the nations with more holidays. However, this last table has not account on regional holidays in those countries and other situations that would stop production in order to rest.