One way of getting to grips with Burma is working through key dates in the national calendar. These are often shrouded in controversy, and minority ethnic groups have their own special dates that are yet more contested. But the national anniversaries and festivals open an important window on this complex society, and for some key dates MOEI participants will be working in Thailand and will find commemorative events going on around them. These are the biggest anniversaries and festivals:
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January 4 |
Independence Day (marking the end of British colonial rule in 1948) |
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February 12 |
Union Day (marking the interethnic Panglong Agreement signed in 1947) |
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March 27 |
Armed Forces Day (marking the Burmese army revolt against Japan in 1945) |
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April |
Water Festival/Burmese New Year |
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July 19 |
Martyrs' Day (marking the assassination of General Aung San in 1947) |
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August 8 |
Unofficial commemoration of the Four Eights democracy uprising in 1988 |
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September 26 |
Unofficial commemoration of the crushing of the Saffron Uprising in 2007 |
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November |
National Day (marking the birth of the nationalist movement in 1920) |
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Dec/Jan |
Karen National Day (the only minority national day with official recognition) |
