Melaka Events & Celebrations
Melaka is culturally diverse, hence it enjoys a wide range of events and celebrations. Here are some of the popular ones.
Masi Magam Festival
The festival is duped as a Malaccan version of Thaipusam. It is a Hindu festival that is celebrated by Tamil speaking people. The festival is celebrated during the full moon of the Tamil month called Masi.
Chap Goh Mei
Chap Goh Mei is often depicted as the Chinese valentine’s day. It is celebrated on the fifteenth day after Chinese New Year and marks the end of Chinese New Year celebration. During the night of Chap Goh Mei, the young maidens will throw oranges to the sea in hope to find life partners.
Chinese New Year Celebration
Source: Ching Neng Bin
Chinese New Year is the biggest and the most important festival for the Chinese communities in Malaysia. The event is to celebrate the first day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Each year symbolizes one of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Melaka Historical City Day
Source: A’MOUR VOYAGE
Melaka received the declaration as a historal city on 15 April 2008. Hence, that day is considered as a public holiday in Melaka. There will be a month long celebration held in conjunction of Melaka Historical City Day. The celebration is called Melaka Festival.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Source: Bambi Corro III
Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated by the Muslim devotees in Melaka. It is to celebrate the end of the fasting month which is Ramadhan. The date changes every year because it relies on the calculation of Hijrah Calendar (It starts when the prophet moved from Mecca to Madinah).
Wesak Day
Source: Priya Mahendran
Wesak day is celebrated by Buddha devotees in Melaka. It is also known as Buddha Day. It is to commemorate the birth of Buddha Gautama, the enlightenment and his departure from the human world. Wesak Day doesn’t have a fix date. It usually falls on May or June every year.
Independence Day
Source: ZurahRoses Homestay Melaka Page
The Independence Day falls on 31st August every year. It is also known as Merdeka Day. It is celebrated to commemorate Malaysia’s Independence from British Colonization in 1957.
Fiesta San Pedro
Fiesta San Pedro or also known as the Feast of St. Peter is a major event celebrated anually by the Portuguese community living in Melaka.
Hari Raya Aidi Adha
- Source: Zakir Jaafar
Hari Raya Aidiladha is celebrated by the Muslim devotees in Melaka. It is to commemorate the prophet’s Abraham sacrificial act towards the god and it marks the end of the pilgrimage season in Mecca.
Deepavali
Source: Hari Prasad Nadig
Deepavali or also known as the Festival of Light is celebrated by the Hindu devotees in Malaysia. It is celebrated to commemorate Lord Rama and his wife Sita’s return to Ayodhya after 14-years of exile. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
Melaka Art & Performance Festival
Melaka Art & Performance Festival is a platform for artists from different disciplines, background and levels of accomplishments to create, collaborate, exchange and experiment arts.
