Planning to visit Indonesia in 2019? Get the most out of your experience! Learn here about the most important holidays in Indonesia - fast and easy with IndonesianPod101!
| February 16, 2019 | Chinese Lunar New Year |
| March 17, 2019 | Day of Silence |
| April 14, 2019 | Isra and Mi’raj |
| April 19, 2019 | Good Friday |
| April 21, 2019 | Kartini Day |
| May 1, 2019 | Labor Day |
| May 2, 2019 | National Education Day |
| May 10, 2019 | Ascension Day |
| May 19, 2019 | Birth of Buddha |
| May 20, 2019 | National Awakening Day |
| May 21, 2019 | Reformation Commemoration Day |
| June 1, 2019 | Pancasila Day |
| June 14, 2019 | Eid al-Fitr |
| July 2, 2019 | National Children Day |
| August 17, 2019 | Indonesian Independence Day |
| August 22, 2019 | Feast of the Sacrifice |
| September 11, 2019 | Islamic New Year |
| October 1, 2019 | Pancasila Sanctity Day |
| October 2, 2019 | Batik Day |
| October 5, 2019 | Indonesian National Armed Forces Day |
| October 28, 2019 | Youth Pledge Day |
| November 1, 2019 | Heroes’ Day |
| November 12, 2019 | Fathers’ Day |
| November 20, 2019 | Birth of the Prophet |
| December 22, 2019 | Mothers’ Day |
How well do you know holidays in Indonesia?
In this article, you learn all about the top Indonesia holidays and the traditions and history behind them. Check the must-know Indonesian vocabulary for popular holidays in Indonesia too!
That way, you can easily talk about Indonesian holidays while improving your vocabulary and overall speaking skills. You will pick up key vocab, phrases, and cultural insights you won’t find in a textbook.
Perfect for any student interested in learning more about Indonesian culture. We will teach you the what, why, when and how of Indonesia holidays.
Chinese New Year celebrations are full of traditions that, when followed, are said to bring abundant good fortune in the next year. The celebration is fifteen days long and ends on day 15 with Cap Go Meh. One long-standing tradition during the Chinese New Year is to clean one’s house (rumah) thoroughly before the Lunar New Year, an act which represents purification from bad luck (sial).
On New Year’s Eve, all the doors (pintu) and windows (jendela) in the house are opened to allow luck to come in, and all the lights in the house are turned on to wish for brightness throughout the year. People may go to the temple, along with their family (keluarga), to make prayers.
Day of Silence is a celebration held to welcome the Saka New Year observed by Hindus in Bali, and falls on the 1st day of Saka. Hindus in Bali welcome Saka New Year with total submission (penyerahan) to the god Hyang Widhi, by praying for the future to be always in His guidance.
During Day of Silence, Hindus conduct the silence fast, which means they aren’t allowed to light fire, to do physical activities, to travel, or to have fun (bersenang-senang). Apart from this, they restrain themselves from lust, thirst, and hunger, keeping the silence by not speaking and concentrating on their god Hyang Widhi by doing 24 hours of meditation.
Isra and Mi’raj Day is an Islamic holiday celebrated on the 27th of Rajaab. The Isra Mi’raj commemorates the journey of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven (surga) on a buraq to receive the command of Allah that Muslims must pray five times a day. In Cirebon, the tradition of Rajaban, which consists of recitation of the chronicle of Isra Mi’raj, is held in the Langgar Alit, or “The Small Mosque of Kanoman Palace.” This event is attended by the royal family, the courtiers, and local people. The procession is started by carrying four oil lamps and a book of the Isra Mi’raj chronicle on a cushion.
The day of the death of Jesus Christ is one of the most important days of the Christian faith, when they commemorate his death on the cross. The ritual includes attending church to worship (beribadah) for three days in a row. The depiction of Jesus’s suffering is re-internalized through the Stations of the Cross. On Easter, followers attend dawn services to commemorate the empty tomb in recognition that Jesus had risen.
Kartini Day falls each year on April 21 and commemorates the contribution of RA Kartini to the fight for equal opportunities between men (pria) and women (wanita) in the modern era, especially in education.
Kartini was the daughter of the regent of Rembang in Central Java. She came from an educated noble family and mastered the Dutch language. She learned that outside Java, women had the same opportunities as men, particularly in education. Kartini, who experienced seclusion, pioneered a school that taught women how to read and write along with some practical skills.
Labor Day in Indonesia is commemorated each year on May 1. The Labor Day movement in Indonesia is used to voice workers’ concerns and aspirations about various issues related to their welfare.
Since 2006, worker mass mobilization has increased each year on Labor Day in major cities in Indonesia. As May 1 approaches, the community anticipates the effect the worker mass mobilization will have on their commute. Often, many people choose to take leave on this day.
This holiday, which began in 1908 and was formed by Ki Hajar Dewantara, seeks to spread the idea that mentorship can be a great educational tool.
Celebrated forty days after Easter, Ascension Day is one of the most important days of the Christian tradition. According to the New Testament, on the fortieth day after the resurrection, Jesus brought his disciples to the Mount of Olives to see Him rise to heaven. One common tradition performed by Christians on this day is visiting the cemetery (Taman Pemakaman Umum). On that day, Christians attend mass (misa) in their local church.
Waisak is a Buddhist holiday celebrated on the full moon in May. The Birth of Buddha is celebrated every May, during the full moon (bulan purnama). In Indonesia, celebrations are concentrated around the Borobudur Temple, attracting both tourists and Buddhists from Indonesia and abroad.
May 20 is an important, albeit not public, holiday in Indonesia. First celebrated in 1908, it marks the time that the “National Awakening” began in the country, thanks to a group in the Dutch East Indies called the Budi Utomo. It’s believed that the formation of this group was an important step towards Indonesia’s independence.
On May 21 each year, Indonesians remember the resignation of their ex-President Suharto in 1998. Reformation Commemoration Day is held as a remembrance of the events that led up to his resignation, and what it meant for Indonesia: a new era in the country’s life.
Beginning in 1945, Pancasila Day is celebrated in Indonesia as the day Sukarno gave a speech called “The Birth of the Pancasila.” This speech essentially outlined five basic principles which the Republic of Indonesia stands on, mainly having to do with belief in one God (monotheism) and having a nationalistic attitude whilst working towards the good of society. It’s observed on June 1 each year.
As the country with the largest number of Muslims in the world, the Eid al-Fitr day, which falls on the 1st of Syawal, is one of the most popular holidays in Indonesia. On this holy day, Muslims get up early in the morning to perform ablution (wudhu). They go to mosques or fields in their best clothes to perform the Eid prayer. But before performing the prayer, Muslims are obliged to make donations. The night before, the congregation will usually recite chants proclaiming that Allah is the Great God (takbir), as they make their way to the mosques.
National Children’s Day is an important national day (hari nasional) that has been celebrated since 1986. It was originally the idea of Soeharto, the second president of the Republic of Indonesia, who saw children as important assets to the nation’s development. In 1984, the government declared July 23 as National Children’s Day. The children’s carnival is the hallmark activity of National Children’s Day. During this carnival, in Indonesian pronounced karnaval, children are introduced to various ethnic groups and indigenous cultures living in Indonesia.
The Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia falls on August 17, the day when Soekarno and Hatta signed and read the Indonesian Declaration of Independence in 1945. This text contains the declaration that the islands in the Archipelago unite into one sovereign country and thereby reject Dutch colonization.
Independence Day is usually filled with traditional games and competitions in villages and cities across the whole archipelago.
The Feast of the Sacrifice is one of the most anticipated celebrations for Muslims all over the world, and they look forward to it each year. On this day, Muslims who can afford it must sacrifice livestock and share the meat with less fortunate people. This celebration is also known as the Lebaran Haji, meaning “Hajj Celebration Day.” A person must offer a sheep or a goat, whereas a cow may be sacrificed on behalf of up to seven individuals.
The public holiday of the Islamic New Year celebration marks the beginning of a new Hijri year, an Islamic calendar system based on lunar rotation. The annual ritual in the city of Solo to welcome the new year is called Kirab 1 Sura, meaning “The Royal Procession of the 1st of Sura.” Wearing traditional costumes (abdi dalem), the name for the courtiers, follow the procession leading a pack of albino buffalos, which, according to traditional belief are descendants of Kyai Slamet, one of the oldest predecessors of the courtiers.
This Indonesian holiday commemorates the tragic events of October 1, 1965, in which a coup-type revolt took place on part of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and many were killed. It’s a day of mourning and remembrance for those whose lives were lost.
National Batik Day is celebrated every year on October 2. The government, through the Cabinet Secretary, reminds people around the entire country to wear batik on this day. The commemoration of Batik Day is still very new; it was created by the President (Presiden) in 2009. This decree was enacted after UNESCO officially admitted the Indonesian Batik to the world heritage culture list. The stipulation of National Batik Day represents a government effort to increase the Indonesian people’s national dignity and the nation’s positive image in international forums, as well as to grow national pride and love for traditional Indonesian culture.
Translated Hari Tentara Nasional Indonesia, this holiday is observed each year on October 5. It’s a day to celebrate the armed forces in Indonesia that were established in 1945, and parades are held every few years, usually in Jakarta. Government officials, most importantly the President and Vice President, attend to watch these parades, be received, give an address, and hand out awards.
Youth Pledge is a historical milestone in the Indonesian path to independence. “Youth Pledge” was created by the Second Youth Congress, held on October 27 and 28, 1928 in Jakarta. Mobilized by the nationalist movement of that time, the Youth Congress was a large thorn in the side of the colonial Dutch. As part of the momentum that encouraged the birth of the Republic of Indonesia, Youth Pledge Day was often used to encourage activities to sharpen the spirit of nationalism (nasionalisme) in the youth.
Heroes’ Day in Indonesia is held in remembrance of the deaths of 16,000 Indonesian and 2,000 British soldiers in a bloody battle that lasted three weeks in the November of 1945 during which the Indonesian fighters resisted the British effort to return Indonesia to the Dutch.
Every November 10, each household in Indonesia displays the red and white flag (bendera), at half-mast. All members of society pray for the spirits of their national heroes (pahlawan), and meditate for sixty seconds in unison at 08.15 local time. The President of Indonesia leads a national visit to the complex of Taman Makam Pahlawan Kalibata, in Jakarta, which is followed by a flower-planting procession.
Father’s Day in Indonesia isn’t a very largely celebrated holiday, and is not yet a public holiday as it was first announced a holiday 2006. It’s celebrated somewhat similarly as it is in other countries, as a way of honoring one’s father.
The Birth of Muhammad is a celebration in which Muslims commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The celebration of the Prophet’s Muhammad was first held in the thirteenth century for one full month. Thousands of people gathered in one place to hold an enormous celebration and to exchange gifts. Nowadays, the celebration is much simpler, referring to the advice of the Prophet not to celebrate his birthday.
Mother’s Day, commemorated on December 22 in Indonesia, was started due to the efforts of Indonesian female fighters in 1928. Mother’s Day was commemorated by these women in honor of their status as the Mothers of the Nation.
As an officially recognized holiday, Mother’s Day is commemorated at government events with official flag ceremonies in which all the flag raisers and officers are female. Many people also commemorate Mother’s Day by relieving their mothers (ibu), from their daily duties. On that day, husbands and children cook special food and give presents (hadiah) to their mothers.
You may ask why it is advantageous to know Indonesian holidays. There are a number of good reasons!
If you’re keen to learn Indonesian on your own, there are a number of ways to do this. Why not choose holidays as a theme? You can start by learning about the Indonesian culture, so find a video or TV program about holidays in Indonesia. Better still - find a video or program about holidays in Indonesian, and watch it a few times! That way your ear will get used to the spoken language. You could also watch Indonesian movies without subtitles, as this too will train your ear to what correct Indonesian sounds like.
If you’re more advanced in Indonesian, you can practice your writing skills by writing a letter to your Indonesian friend about the holidays video. Or write a short review of the video, and post it on social media! Imagine how impressed your friends will be!
Practice your Indonesian pronunciation, and record yourself talking about your holiday in Indonesia. Pronouncing words correctly in any language is very important, or you may find yourself saying things you don’t mean!
If you’re an absolute beginner, it would be best to start with a book, a CD series, free PDF cheat sheets and preferably your Indonesian friend who can help you. Or, you can start with IndonesianPod101, for free!
Holidays in Indonesia can also be the perfect opportunity to practice your Indonesian! For the best experience, make sure to master at least Level 1 of your Indonesian lessons here on IndonesianPod101 before you go on holiday to Indonesia. Then don’t be shy! Use it with every native speaker you encounter in every situation. Practicing continuously to speak a language is one of the most important habits if you want to become fluent. Or, if you’re a new subscriber to IndonesianPod101 in a hurry to get to Indonesia, study Absolute Beginner Indonesian for Every Day to help you get by as a traveller - you will be surprised how far a little Indonesian can go!
IndonesianPod101 is uniquely geared to help you master relevant, everyday vocabulary and phrases, pronounced correctly and in the right context - this will set you on the right track. Our courses are perfectly designed to help you in fun ways!
But do have a holiday first. Ideally you will enjoy a different culture with a visit, and enrich your life in ways you cannot imagine. Don’t wait till 2020 to learn Indonesian through IndonesianPod101 though - it will open a whole new world for you!
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