Penang Festivals

Chinese New Year (January/February) This is a joyous time when friends and relatives give each other "angpows" - red packets with a gift of cash as a token of prosperity and celebrate with feasts and lion dances to ward off evil spirits and usher in the lunar new year. Family reunion dinners are a must among Chinese on the eve of the new year.

Songkran Festival (April 13) Venue: Thai temples everywhere on the island. There's a wet and splashing element of fun in this festival celebrated by the Thai community in Penang in conjunction with the Thai New Year. It is a day of celebration and spiritual cleansing - symbolically represented by splashing water on anyone and everyone - which is also part of the enjoyment.

Penang International Triathlon (May) An annual event featuring a grueling non-stop swimming-cycling-running race which attracts hundreds of hopefuls to Penang.

Penang International Dragon Boat Festival (June) This water-sport is gaining worldwide popularity as seen from the increasing number of international teams participating each year in the sea off Batu Uban.

Penang Floral Festival (July) Highlight of the festival is the bright display of flowers at the KOMTAR Mall.

City on Parage (July) A week-long extravaganza of food fairs, handicraft exhibitions, street concerts, cultural shows and parades.

Penang Beach Carnival (July) The one-week carnival features food promotions, inter-hotel competitions, seaside festivities, cultural shows, fashion parades, telematches and parties.

Penang Food Festival (August) Offers visitors the opportunity to sample the best of Penang cuisine, learn a bit about its history and watch various dishes being prepared.

Penang Cultural Festival (August) A month-long festival to celebrate Penang¡¯s multi-racial heritage featuring various performances from different cultural groups.

National Day (31 August) The country celebrates it's independence on 31 August with parades and shows. Towns and cities throughout Malaysia will be gaily decorated and adorned with lights for the grand occasion.

Lantern Festival (September) Mid-Autumn festival characterized by brightly lit lanterns in all shapes and colors. Also associated with the moon cake, a sweet delicacy, which once carried secret messages inciting rebellion in ancient China.

Malaysia Fest (September) For two weeks, all the major hotels and shopping complexes join forces to feature the culture, cuisine and handicrafts of the various states in Malaysia.

Shopping Carnival (October) Bargains galore at shopping establishments in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang during this annual two- week shopping extravaganza.

Deepavali (October/November) The "Festival of Lights" is a celebration which marks the triumph of good over evil. During this festival, Hindu homes are emblazoned with lights to symbolize this triumph.

Pesta Pulau Penang Festival (November/December) This festival features cultural events, parades and carnivals and is peculiar to Penang only.

Christmas (25 December) Celebrated by Christians similar to any other part of the world. Midnight services are held at churches on Christmas eve. Shopping centres, hotels, old folks homes and children's homes echo with beautiful carols. The revelry and yuletide spirit of Christmas is enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is celebrated by Muslims after the month-long Ramadan (fasting month). Muslims usher in the new year with prayers in the mosques followed by receiving well-wishers in their homes.

Malaysia has 44 holidays a year, the most regular ones are listed below. The other holidays rely on moon cycles and other influences, so change yearlyCHAP GOH MEH (February/March) Celebrated on the 15th night of the first month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. The highlight of the festival is the orange throwing ceremony in which local maidens throw oranges into the sea for would-be suitors to catch.

Public Holidays

Jan 01 - New Year's Day

Jan 08 & 09 - Hari Raya Puasa

Feb 05 & 06 - Chinese New Year

Feb 01 - Federal Territory Day (Kuala Lumpur and Labuan only)

Mar 16 - Hari Raya Haji

Apr 06 - Awal Muharram

May 01 - Workers' Day

May 18 - Wesak Day

Jun 03 - Birthday of Sri Paduka Baginda Yang di Pertuan Agong

Jul 15 - Birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW

Aug 31 - National Day

Oct 28 - Deepavali (except in Sarawak and Labuan)

Dec 25 - Christmas

Dec 27 & 28 - Hari Raya Puasa