Buddhism is practiced in many countries, which have different cultures, so holidays vary from country to country. One holiday most Buddhists celebrate is the Buddha's birthday, whic falls in the spring. The actual day is determined by the lunar calendar, so it varies from year to year.
Answer:
There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Buddhist community. Many celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar.
The most significant celebration(Vesak) happens every May on the night of the full moon. Buddhists all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago.
Buddhist Festivals are always joyful occasions. Typically on a festival day,
Important festivals and celebrations:
Buddhist New Year
In Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April.
In Mahayana countries the new year starts on the first full moon day in January.
Some Buddhists have other traditions: Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese celebrate late January or early February; Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later.
Vesak ("Buddha Day")
Buddha's Birthday is known as Vesak or Visakah Puja (Buddha's Birthday Celebrations). Vesak is the major Buddhist festival of the year as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May.
Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or "Sangha Day")
Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). It celebrates an ordination of many follows of the Buddha by the Buddha at the
Veruvana Monastery.
Asalha Puja Day ("Dharma Day")
Asalha Puja ( pay homage to the Buddha) on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It remembers the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India.
Uposatha (Observance Day)
The four monthly holy days observed in Theravada countries
Pavarana Day
This day marks the conclusion of the Rains retreat (vassa). In the following month, the kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gather to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.
Kathina Ceremony (Robe offering ceremony)
Held within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat. New robes and other gifts may be offered by the laity to the monks.
Anapanasati Day
The Buddha presented his instructions on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati).
Abhidhamma Day
In the Burma this day celebrates marks Buddha's visit to the Tushita Heaven to teach his mother the Abhidhamma.
Loy Krathong (Festival of Floating Bowls)
At the end of the Kathin Festival season, in Thailand on the full moon night of the Twelfth Lunar month people bring bowls containing flowers, candles and incense sticks, and float them in the water.
The Ploughing Festival
In May, when the moon is half-full, Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's first moment of enlightenment, which is said to have happened when the Buddha was seven years old, when he had gone with his father to watched the ploughing.
The Elephant Festival
The Buddha used the example of a wild elephant which, when it is caught, is harnessed to a tame one to train. In the same way, he said, a person new to Buddhism should have a special friendship of an older Buddhist.
The Festival of the Tooth
The Buddhas tooth is kept as a relic. Once a year in August, on the night of the full moon, there is a special procession for it.
Ulambana (Ancestor Day)
In the Mahayana tradition from the first to the fifteenth days of the eighth lunar month. Buddhists remember their ancestors.
Avalokitesvara's Birthday (Kuan Yin)
A festival which celebrates the Bodhisattva ideal represented by Avalokitesvara (the Buddha of compassion). It occurs on the full moon day in March.
Bodhi Day (Enlightenment Day)
Bodhi Day honours the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama -- the Buddha on the eighth of December. The day is observed with prayer, meditation and teachings.
Wesak, also known as Vesak, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. It is considered the most important festival in the Buddhist calendar, and is a time for reflection, meditation, and acts of kindness and generosity.
Wesak or Vesākha is an annual holiday for buddhists in the Nepal, Sri Lanka and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. Sometimes it's called "Buddhas Birthday", it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Gautama Buddha.
Wesak is a nomadic religious community originating in Wales. They are essentially descended from three Welsh families who controlled the three parts of Wales in the nineteen hundreds. The Wesak were very traditional people, they were highly dependent on their farming communities which provided their main sources of food and shelter. the Wesak people married in their mid to late 30's and had large 7 day celebrations to mark the event of a marriage. They were mostly non religious but they were not tolerant of stealing or laziness.
Many Buddhist communities celebrate unique events, Some of the better known Buddhist festivals and celebrations are:
Buddhist New Year
In Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April.
In Mahayana countries the new year starts on the first full moon day in January.
Some Buddhists have other traditions: Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese celebrate late January or early February; Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later.
Vesak ("Buddha Day")
Buddha's Birthday is known as Vesak or Visakah Puja (Buddha's Birthday Celebrations). Vesak is the major Buddhist festival of the year as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May.
Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or "Sangha Day")
Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). It celebrates an ordination of many follows of the Buddha by the Buddha at the
Veruvana Monastery.
Asalha Puja Day ("Dharma Day")
Asalha Puja ( pay homage to the Buddha) on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It remembers the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India.
Uposatha (Observance Day)
The four monthly holy days observed in Theravada countries
Pavarana Day
This day marks the conclusion of the Rains retreat (vassa). In the following month, the kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gather to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.
Kathina Ceremony (Robe offering ceremony)
Held within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat. New robes and other gifts may be offered by the laity to the monks.
Anapanasati Day
The Buddha presented his instructions on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati).
Abhidhamma Day
In the Burma this day celebrates marks Buddha's visit to the Tushita Heaven to teach his mother the Abhidhamma.
Loy Krathong (Festival of Floating Bowls)
At the end of the Kathin Festival season, in Thailand on the full moon night of the Twelfth Lunar month people bring bowls containing flowers, candles and incense sticks, and float them in the water.
The Ploughing Festival
In May, when the moon is half-full, Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's first moment of enlightenment, which is said to have happened when the Buddha was seven years old, when he had gone with his father to watched the ploughing.
The Elephant Festival
The Buddha used the example of a wild elephant which, when it is caught, is harnessed to a tame one to train. In the same way, he said, a person new to Buddhism should have a special friendship of an older Buddhist.
The Festival of the Tooth
The Buddhas tooth is kept as a relic. Once a year in August, on the night of the full moon, there is a special procession for it.
Ulambana (Ancestor Day)
In the Mahayana tradition from the first to the fifteenth days of the eighth lunar month. Buddhists remember their ancestors.
Avalokitesvara's Birthday (Kuan Yin)
A festival which celebrates the Bodhisattva ideal represented by Avalokitesvara (the Buddha of compassion). It occurs on the full moon day in March.
Bodhi Day (Enlightenment Day)
Bodhi Day honours the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama -- the Buddha on the eighth of December. The day is observed with prayer, meditation and teachings.
It celebrates the Buddhas birthday and it also marks his enlightenment and death.
* enlightment * death * b-days
No, Wesak is not a religion. It is a significant annual festival celebrated by Buddhists around the world, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.
Buddhist people celebrate special days such as Vesak, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, as well as Kathina, when new robes are offered to monks after the end of the monastic retreat. Other important days include Parinirvana Day, celebrating the Buddha's death, and Uposatha days, which are observed with increased focus on meditation, precepts, and Dhamma study.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and birthdays because they believe these celebrations have pagan origins and are not supported by the Bible. They focus on commemorating events such as the Memorial of Christ's death instead.
Muslims do not celebrate Christmas or Easter.
A gentile does not typically celebrate Hanukkah, as it is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
buddhist celebrate wesak .lanterns are lit on this festival, and it celebrates the whole life of the founder of this religion
Buddhist people celebrate special days such as Vesak, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, as well as Kathina, when new robes are offered to monks after the end of the monastic retreat. Other important days include Parinirvana Day, celebrating the Buddha's death, and Uposatha days, which are observed with increased focus on meditation, precepts, and Dhamma study.
Wesak is a word found in Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Indonesia. Wesak is originally pronounced as "Vaishaak" in Sanskrit and is a name of summer month when the crop is fully ripe/dried and is ready for harvesting. It is in this month Crops are harvested and hence the festival of harvest in India, Malaysia and Indonesia. So we can say that "Wesak" or "Vaishaak" belongs to whichever religion the Greater India was following for more than 10,000 years.
No, Wesak is not a religion. It is a significant annual festival celebrated by Buddhists around the world, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.
The reason that Wesak is celebrated is because it marks the birthday of Budda , his death day and the day he found the truth about life and how to avoid suffering.
They wear simple red and black What is wesak anyway?
The WESAK website states; Wesak is named for the legendary convergence of Buddha, Christ and other Masters in the hallowed Wesak Valley in the Himalayas during the Buddha full moon occurring in May each year. The convergence is celebrated variously in cultures throughout the world, including annual pilgrimages to the original site. At this time, the next celebration in the U.S. is scheduled to occur May 8-10, 2009.
Wesak Day falls on the 9th of May 2009, a Saturday. May you be well. May you be happy.
Vesak, sometimes anglicised to Wesak, is one of the most commonly performed rituals of public devotions in Buddhism. It is the annual ritual celebrating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.
Wesak is basically the major buddhist event where lord buddha was bron, atained enlightenment and died, wesak is a celebration of his life and is a time where all meet together and go to the pansal(temple ) and eat have fun, make a wesak koodowa (a large elaborate lantern) its very special and magical you should go
Wesak.
21 May