What are the Buddhist holy days?

Answer 1

Yes it does. The particular days vary by Buddhist tradition and by country. Mostly the days are defined by the lunar cycle so fall on different dates each year. Probably the most important is Wesak or Buddha day which marks the birth (and for some also the enlightenment and death) of the Buddha.

Answer 2

Wesak is the festival honouring the Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment. It is held on the full moon in May. There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Buddhist community. Many of these days celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. The most significant celebration happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhist all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. It has become to be known as Buddha Day. There are many Buddhist festivals. Listed below are some of the more important ones: Buddhist New Year In Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, 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. However, the Buddhist New Year depends on the country of origin or ethnic background of the people. Vesak or Visakah Puja 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, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. Magha Puja Day or "Sangha Day" Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). This holy day is observed to commemorate an important event in the life of the Buddha. This event occurred early in the Buddha's teaching life. Asalha Puja Day or "Dhamma Day" Asalha Puja - pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates 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. Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity). Uposatha or "Observance Day" The four monthly holy days which continue to be observed in Theravada countries - the new moon, full moon, and quarter moon days. Known in Sri Lanka as Poya Day. 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) Is held on any convenient date within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat, which is the three month rains retreat season (Vassa) for the monastic order. It is the time of the year when new robes and other requisites may be offered by the laity to the monks. Songkran This Thai Buddhist festival goes on for several days during the middle of April. People clean their houses and wash their clothes and enjoy sprinkling perfumed water on the monks, novices and other people for at least two or three days. Loy Krathong (Festival of Floating Bowls) At the end of the Kathin Festival season, when the rivers and canals are full of water, the Loy Krathong Festival takes place in all parts of Thailand on the full moon night of the Twelfth Lunar month. People bring bowls made of leaves (which contain flowers) candles and incense sticks, and float them in the water. As they go, so too does one's bad luck. The traditional practice of Loy Krathong was meant to pay homage to the holy footprint of the Buddha on the beach of the Namada River in India. 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. To mark this saying, Thais hold an elephant festival on the third Saturday in November. Ulambana (Ancestor Day) Is celebrated throughout the Mahayana tradition from the first to the fifteenth days of the eighth lunar month. It is believed that the gates of Hell are opened on the first day and the ghosts may visit the world for fifteen days. Food offerings are made during this time to relieve the sufferings of these ghosts. On the fifteenth day, Ulambana or Ancestor Day, people visit cemeteries to make offerings to the departed ancestors.

Answer 3

Sort of. The Buddha declared that each vihara (temple) should have a sima, a special place where monks and nuns would be ordained and where they would recite the fundamental rules of monastic discipline.

The Buddha established that on the full moon and new moon that monks and nuns should gather in the sima and recite the monastic rules. He also gave several days each month when he encouraged householders to follow the Eight Precepts. He also established kathina, which falls in October, at the end of the rainy season retreat (vassa) when householders should give robes to needy monks and nuns.

Since the Buddha's passing, it has become customary to also observe Vesak, the full moon of May, to remember the Buddha's birth, Enlightenment, and passing.

Various countries and denominations have days in addition or instead of these.

It has also become popular to visit Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, as well as Bodhgaya, the site in India where the Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.