The traditional Lao calendar is a solar-lunar mix. The year itself is a rocketed by solar phases, while the months are divided according to lunar phases (unlike the western calendar in which the months as well as the years are calculated according to the sun). The Lao Buddhist Era (BE) calendar started (year one) in 638 BC.

Festivals in Laos are largely linked to agricultural seasons or historical Buddhist holidays. The general word for festival in Laos is "BOUN"

January 1

International New Year's Day

January-February

Boun Pha Vet
This temple centered festival celebrates the birth of Prince Vessanthara, the Buddha's penultimate existence. The jataka, or birth story of the Buddha is recited. This is the favored time for Lao men to become ordained as a monk. Festivities are staggered between villages so that different villages can visit one another to their celebrations.

February

Boun Ma Kha Bu Saar (Full Moon)
This celebration commemorates a speech given by the Buddha in which he laid down the first monastic regulations and predicted his own death. The speech was heard by 1250 enlightened monks who arrive without prior summons. The festival is celebrated with chanting and presenting offering various Vat throughout the country. The biggest celebrations occur at the Khmer ruins of Vat PhuChamPassak.

March

Boun Khoun Khao
Harvest festivals are celebrated in various villages throughout the month.

Baci
A Baci is a ceremony to bestow good luck on a person or event. Baci are held when people are promoted in their work, move into a new house, star a new job and for almost any other reason. Also special Baci can be arranged for new mothers or people getting married. Few Lao would not embark on a long journey without a Baci. Unique to Lao culture, a Baci involves transferring good luck through blessed strings that are tied to one wrist. The strings must stay attached for at least three day the luck to remain.

April

Boun Pi Mai
Pi Mai means "Year New" it is the time when the Lao cerebrate the start of their Lunar calendar. Practically, the entry country grinds to a half for the festivities. Houses are cleaned, people wear new clothes and Buddha image are washed with holy water, the festivals is one of the best times to come to Laos. This is when the famous water flights take in the streets, which is appropriate, as it is hottest time of the year.

Visitors are likely to find themselves drenched! Ceremonies take place in almost all Vats, where offering of flowers and fruits are made and symbolic altars are caved out of sand in the courtyard of temples. One of the best places to view the festival is "Luang Pra Bang" Where various procession and The "Miss New Year" pageant take place.

May

BounVisakha Bu-Saa (Full Moon)
Starting on the day of the sixth lunar month, this celebration commemorates the birth, enlightenment and parinibbana (death) of Buddha. The festival is based and visitors can see chanting and sermonizing at night, followed by beautiful candlelight processions.

Boun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)
Throughout the month, various villages around the country take part in one the most boisterous festivals on the Lao calendar. This festival dates from pre-Buddhist times and features home made rockets that are fired into the clouds, hopefully inspiring the start of the rainy season. Each Ban (or village) makes their own rockets and fires it amidst a great deal of raucous chanting and merry-marking.
Originally a fertility festival, the celebrations often includes copious Lao-Lao (Lao Whiskey) consumption and hilarious cross-dressing where participants often tout enormous phalluses.

Boat races are held in Luang prabang with associated festivities.

July

Boun Khao Phansaa (also Khao Phassa, full moon)
This is the beginning of the traditional three months "rain retreat", during which Buddhist monks are themselves in a single monastery. It is the traditional time of the year for men to temporarily enter the monkhood, hence many ordinations and other celebrating can be viewed at Vat around the country.

August

Boun Haw Khao padeep Dinh (Full Moon)
In this somber festival people pay respect to dead relatives and ancestors. During this time there many cremations to the Sangha. The monks chant on behalf of the deceased

September

Boun Haw Khao Salaack (Full Moon)
Prayers and offering are made to the dead at Vats around the country.

October

Water festival - Boun Ok Phansa (Full Moon)
This Festival is the most notable for its many colorful and hectic boat race held around the country. Most towns or large villages near a river will take part. One of the biggest is in Vientiane. Ceremonies and processions races are also held at the vats to signify the end of the three month rain retreat and gifts (often of alms-bowls and robes) are given to monks.

November

Boun That Luang
That Luang festival takes place in and around the most important Lao Vat, Phathat Luang in Vientiane. The whole area becomes a sea of ochre saffron as hundreds of monks assemble early in the morning of the first day of the festival to receive alms and flowers from devout Buddhists. Later, there is the colorful Phasaat Pheung or candle procession, between That Luang and Vat Si Muang. The celebration lasts a whole week and includes fireworks, music and a unique Lao version of local fair.

December

National Day - December 2
Celebrating the anniversary of the revolution, National Day is a colorful time to visit Laos. Building are decorated with the country flag, and National symbols adorn all public structures for up to ten days before and after 2 December.
The day itself is a public holiday.

Hmong New Year
This is celebrated in different villages throughout the month. It is a fun event where gifts and money are given and feasts are held. If you are lucky enough to see this cerebration you will probably be invited into a Hmong home to eat and drink.

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