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National Holidays
Celebrated in Indonesia
Indonesian National
Holidays 2000
- Saturday, January 1
: New Year’s Day
- Saturday, January 8
: Eid’l Fitri (1 Syawal 1420 H)**
- Sunday, January 9
: Eid’l Fitri (Second Day)**
- Thursday, March 16
: Eid'l Adha (10 Dzulhijjah 1420 H)**
- Tuesday, April 4
: Hindu Dharma New Year’s Day (Hari Raya Nyepi) **
- Thursday, April 6
: Moslem New Year's Day ( 1 Muharram 1421 H)**
- Friday, April 21
: Good Friday (Wafat Isa Almasih)**
- Thursday, May 18
: Waisak Day (Buddhism Holiday)**
- Thursday, June 1
: Ascension of Jesus Christ (Kenaikan Isa Almasih)**
- Thursday, June 15
:
Maulid of Prophet Muhammad (12 Rabiul Awal 1421 H)**
- Thursday, August 17
: Indonesian Independence Day
- Wednesday, October 25
: Isra’ and
Mi’raj of Prophet Muhammad (27 Rajab 1419 H)**
- Saturday, December 25 :
Christmas Day
- Wednesday, December 27: Eid’l Fitri (1
Syawal 1421 H)**
- Thursday, December 28 :
Eid’l Fitri (Second Day)**
Changes every year
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New Year, January 1st:
The first of January is a national
holiday, Indonesians usually celebrate New Year's Eve in various
forms and festivities. It is not a traditional celebration.
Proclamation of Independence,
August 17th:
Similar to the July 4th celebrations
in the United States. Each year, August the 17th is celebrated
nationwide. The highlight of the celebration is a flag-raising
ceremony held at the State Palace, Jakarta. On August 16, the
President delivers a State Address to the nation giving the
Government's account before the Parliament with regard to domestic
as well as foreign policies. Various activities undertaken during
the celebrations, cover the fields of: sports, boy scout and girl
guide activities, scientific and literary competitions, elections of
exemplary teachers, students, social workers, doctors and so forth.
Those who succeed in being selected as exemplary persons are given
an audience with the President in a celebration held at the Palace.
The Proclamation of Independence Day is also commemorated and
celebrated by Indonesian Embassies, Consulate Generals and abroad
together with members of the Indonesian community.
Major Religious Holidays
Major celebrations with respect to
other religions are commemorated by those who follow the religions
concerned are proclaimed as National Holidays by the Government.
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Moslem Religious Holidays
Eidil Fitri:
This celebration is based upon the
lunar calendar, therefore it does not always fall on the same date
or month of the solar calendar. The celebration marks the conclusion
of a one-month fasting period which is religiously observed by all
Moslems. The celebration follows general prayers at the Mosque after
which people visit each other to pay respects and ask their elders
and friends for forgiveness. Special foods are prepared for the
occasion and eaten in a communal meal. Indonesians celebrate Eidil
Fitri for two days as a national holidays.
Eid'l Adha: Pilgrimage holiday
The Moslem Day of sacrifices,
commemorated with mass prayers at mosque and in town square. Goats
and cattle are slaughtered and the meat given to the poor and needy.
Muharram 1st: New Year
Isra' and Mi'raj of Prophet Mohammad:
ascension day
Maulud: Birthday of Prophet
Mohammad.
In Yogyakarta, celebrations to
commemorate of the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, about one week
before the actual day, begin with traditional ceremonies, carnivals
and festival (Sekaten).
The people of Yogyakarta and
surroundings generally believe that those participating in the
ceremonies commemorating the birth of the Prophet will be blessed
with a good life and youthfulness.
On the first day, starting from 08:00
p.m., two melodiously tuned gamelan sets: Kyai Nogowilogi and Kyai
Guntur Madu are played simultaneously in the Sultan's Palace (Keraton)
Ponconiti pavilion. At intervals a sermon is given and verses of the
Holy Qur'an script are recited.
At midnight, guards of the Keraton
escort the two gamelan sets carried in procession from the Ponconiti
pavilion to the Masjid Agung or Grand Mosque. At the Masjid Agung
yard, Kyai Nogowilogo is put in the north Pagongan and the Kyai
Guntur Madu in the south. The two gamelan sets are played
simultaneously until the end of the Sekaten festivities is declared
at exactly 00:00 (midnight), right after the two gamelan sets are
carried back into the Kraton Yogyakarta.
On the day of the birthday of Prophet
Mohammad, a parade of the Keraton guards and procession of the
Gunungan start from 8:00 a.m. at the Northern Square.
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Christian Religious Holidays
Good Friday
Ascension day of Jesus Christ
Christmas:
Christmas is celebrated nationwide,
particularly by those who profess the Christian faith. Celebrations
during Christmas day and the day after, besides the universal way,
have a somewhat regional flavor throughout the various cultures in
Indonesia.
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Buddhist Holidays
Waicak: Buddha's birthday and
death
In Yogyakarta, the religious
procession starts from the Mendut Temple located about 35 km
northwest of Yogyakarta, to the Borobudur temple.
Preceded by the holy fire, the Buddha
statue and a Miniature stupa are carried in a procession, followed
by the Bikhsus, clad in their yellow robes and members of the
Buddhist community bringing with them candles and bundles of
flowers. The moment the moon is at it fullest, the principal Holy
Waicak ceremony starts, comprising the commemoration of the birth of
Prince Sidharta, the moment he reached Buddha-hood when meditating
in the Uruvela forest under the Bodhi tree and the moment of his
death and ascension to the Nirvana. The Waicak ceremony in
Yogyakarta is held at the Marangjati Vihara.
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Hindu Religious Holidays
Nyepi: Saka New Year
The Hindu Dharma New Year of the
solar/lunar (Caka) calendar is celebrated only in the island of
Bali.
This holiday falls on the Spring
equinox and is observed as a day of complete stillness. No fire may
be lit, no transport taken, no work done. No one should be seen on
the roads. One day before Nyepi, the last day of the old year,
purification sacrifices and offerings are placed at crossroads and
in the centers of the villages and towns all over Bali. Priests
chant mantras to exorcise the demons (buta and kala) of the old
year.
In the evening the people of Bali
bang gongs and cymbals in all the corners of the family compound and
parade through the streets with torches to make sure that all the
lingering evil spirits are aroused. In Denpasar (capital city of
Bali), thousands of boys gather at streets. The next day, the day of
Nyepi, it is silent everywhere.
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Other National Days Commemorated
Pancasila Sanctity Day, October 1st
Armed Forces Day, October 5th
Youth Pledge Day, October 28th
Hero's Day, November 10th
Women's Day, December 22nd
National Education Day, May 2nd
National Awakening Day, May 20th
National Children's Day, July 23rd
National Sports Day, September 8th
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