Khmer - Calendar 1987

The Khmer Calendar in 1987: A Year of Transition, Tradition, and Celestial Timekeeping

In 1987, Cambodia was slowly emerging from a decade of turmoil following the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime (1979) and the subsequent Vietnamese occupation. While politics dominated headlines, the daily lives of Cambodians—both inside the country and in diaspora communities in France, the US, and Australia—continued to be guided by an ancient, sophisticated lunisolar system: the Khmer calendar.

Lunar Months: Each month begins with the waxing moon and is divided into two 15-day halves (waxing and waning). khmer calendar 1987

Dates: While the Gregorian year began on January 1, the Khmer lunar year of the Rabbit actually began on January 29, 1987, and concluded on February 16, 1988. 2. Major Cultural Milestones in 1987 The Khmer Calendar in 1987: A Year of

In 1987, the calendar functioned as it has for centuries, dictating the dates for Kathina robe-offerings, Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day), and the traditional New Year Chaul Chnam Thmey. Dates: While the Gregorian year began on January

Major Buddhist Holidays in 1987:

| Khmer Holiday | Gregorian Date (1987) | Significance | |---------------|----------------------|--------------| | Meak Bochea | February 12 | Commemorates the Buddha’s final sermon. | | Visak Bochea | May 12 | Birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. | | Chhnam Vossa (Buddhist Lent) | July 11 | Start of the three-month rainy season retreat for monks. | | Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day) | September 13 – 27 (15 days) | Offering food to ghosts of ancestors. The 15th day is Ben Thom. | | Kathina (End of Lent) | October 12 | Offering new robes to monks. |

While modern Cambodia officially uses the Gregorian calendar for civil administration, the Khmer calendar still governs festivals,

The Anatomy of 1987 in the Khmer System

Before diving into the specific days, it is crucial to understand which "1987" we are discussing. The Gregorian year 1987 overlaps two Khmer lunar years.