Myanmar New Year 2025, 2026 and 2027
In mid-April on the Gregorian Calendar, Myanmar New Year is celebrated as a public holiday in Myanmar, formerly called Burma.
Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
---|---|---|---|
2025 | 17 Apr | Thu | Myanmar New Year |
2026 | 17 Apr | Fri | Myanmar New Year |
2027 | 17 Apr | Sat | Myanmar New Year |
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. |
Myanmar New Year is a Buddhist festival at root, but it also has connections with Hinduism and is, in fact, the Buddhist version of the Hindu myth of Arsi and Devas. The myth involves a wager between two gods, the loser losing his head but gaining the head of an elephant. But to stop this new head from drying up the sea or scattering fire-shots through the heavens, it was taken away and given to a new princess devi at the beginning of each new year.
The celebrations last four or five days, the final culminating day being Myanmar New Year itself. It is traditional to toss water on people or douse people in water on this day. There will even be water-spraying stations set up in the capital city of Yangon, and some will also pour water ceremonially on the ground after the sounding of official New Year’s cannons. School children will be out on summer vacation, and the whole country will be out and about celebrating.
Previous Years
Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | 17 Apr | Wed | Myanmar New Year |
2023 | 17 Apr | Mon | Myanmar New Year |