Travelling is not just about soaking in the sights. It’s also about breathing in the culture and traditions that have shaped the town or country you’re visiting.

In the case of Cambodia, there’s no better way to experience the culture than by seeing how we celebrate our national holidays.

Here are some of the Cambodian public holidays in 2023 that you would want to witness (if, and when, you can travel again).

Khmer New Year (April 13 to April 16)

Not to be confused with New Year’s Eve, the Khmer New Year signals the end of a harvest season and ushers in a new one. While celebrations like these would mean huge crowds in the capital for some countries, it’s the exact opposite in Phnom Penh. It’s usually quiet at this time of the year, with most business establishments closed for the entire 3-day holiday.

But wait until you see what’s happening in the provinces. 

With people coming home to their loved ones, all the fun is happening around the countryside. You’ll see people dancing around the rice paddies as they drink from their Angkor beer cans. 

It’s also good to watch the traditional games held around the Angkor temples. There are rice cake-eating contests and competitions that challenge locals to cook the largest sticky rice cakes they can make. 

But the Khmer New Year isn’t just about games and partying. It’s also a highly spiritual three days spent in prayer and thanksgiving. 

The 1^st day is called Moha Songkran. Cambodians believe that on this day, a new set of angels come into their homes to protect them in the coming year. This is why people clean and decorate their houses to welcome these angels into their homes. They also leave lotus flowers, fruits and incense at spirit houses as offerings.

The 2^nd day is the day of giving called Wanabat. This is where you really witness the Cambodian culture of generosity as children are given money and new clothes and elders are given gifts. They also pack up some of their used belongings and donate these to the poor.

The 3^rd day is called Tanai Lieang Saka. They celebrate a new beginning and start their day by visiting the monks and asking for blessings. In the afternoon, you’ll see colorful parties that go on through the night.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May 26)

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held at the start of the rice-growing season, which also marks the start of the rainy season.

The Sdach Meak (the King’s representative) and the Preah Mehuo (the Queen’s representative) play major roles in the ceremony. The Sdach Meak ploughs the ground with a pair of royal oxen while the Preah Mehuo sows the seeds behind him. This goes on for 3 rounds. After the ploughing, the oxen are then released and led to an area where there are 7 golden trays containing beans, corn, grass, rice, sesame seeds, water and wine. 

Here’s an interesting tidbit about oxen in Cambodia. Cambodians believe that oxen have the power to predict the future. That’s why they wait and see which trays the oxen would eat out of. Each golden tray symbolizes a prediction. If an ox eats the rice, then they’re expecting a great rice harvest. The same thing holds true for sesame, corn and soybeans. The more the oxen eat of these, the more abundant the harvest will be.

But these predictions aren’t always good. If an ox eats grass, for example, this could show a year filled with animal diseases. If the ox drinks the water, the rainfall will be heavier than usual. If the ox drinks the wine, then it could lead to a higher crime rate. 

Pchum Ben (October 1 to October 3)

The Pchum Ben happens over a period of 15 days when Cambodians believe the spirits of their ancestors are released. This is also the time when these spirits are ushered into purgatory to begin their journey to heaven or hell – wherever they’re meant to end up in.

Because of this, Cambodians visit the nearest temples and go home to their provinces to offer food to the monks. They believe that this could help them earn merits that will eventually lead their ancestors to the good place. 

They also make Bay Ben – balls of sticky rice – and offer these to hungry ghosts. Cambodians believe that ghosts who greatly sinned during their life here on earth are unable to eat during the day, which is why these rice balls are usually offered at dawn.

This festival shows the importance of family (dead or alive) in the Cambodian culture. Before the festival starts, Cambodian children would usually serve lunch to their parents before they head off to the pagodas. They believe that it’s essential to establish a loving relationship at home before asking for favor to the gods I behalf of their dead.

Bon Om Touk (November 14 to November 16)

Bon Om Touk is the Cambodian Water Festival held at the end of the rainy season. Usually, the heavy rains cause the Tonle Sap river to overflow, setting the perfect scene for the Pirogue longboat race. 

The race draws in thousands of people, both local and from all over the globe. But aside from the daytime race, the night also draws in quite a crowd with a huge number of neon-lighted boats strewn across the waters. A spectacular fireworks display is also held every night, the perfect partner to the illuminated boats in the lake and river. 

You can also roam through the streets of Siem Reap and enjoy the parties, with a lot of traditional dancing and native food. There are also a number of concerts going on, adding to the wide options you have for entertainment during this Cambodia national holiday.

Other Cambodian Public Holidays in 2024

With their rich history, the holidays mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg.

Cambodia will be celebrating Victory Day on January 7, which marks its 42nd year of freedom from the Khmer Rouge regime.

Visak Bochea Day happens on May 22. They celebrate the life and teachings of Buddha and hold parties in the streets and around the temples. 

They will also observe Independence Day on November 9 to celebrate their freedom from their French colonizers in 1953.