The History Behind Malaysia’s Major Public Holidays

9 Sept 2025

historyMerdekaMalaysia DayThaipusamDeepavali

👋 Introduction Every holiday has a story. Here’s the history behind some of Malaysia’s most important celebrations.

🇲🇾 Merdeka Day & Malaysia Day#

Merdeka Day (31 August) marks independence in 1957, while Malaysia Day (16 September) commemorates the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

🕌 Hari Raya Aidilfitri#

Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrates the end of Ramadan, while Aidiladha honors sacrifice and giving.

🏮 Chinese New Year#

A time for family reunions, prosperity rituals, and lion dances.

🪔 Deepavali#

Known as the Festival of Lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.

🛕 Thaipusam#

A Hindu festival observed with vows, offerings, and processions.

🪷 Wesak Day#

A Buddhist celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.

🎯 Conclusion Understanding the history behind Malaysia’s holidays enriches the experience of celebrating them. MalaysiaPublicHoliday.com is your go-to guide for keeping track of dates and traditions.

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✨ Planning Tip ✨

MalaysiaPublicHoliday.com makes it easy to browse holidays by year, state, or type, plus download calendars in PDF, Excel, or Word. Perfect for families, businesses, and travelers.

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