May 12th is another holiday. Today is Visakha Bucha Day. This day is one of the 3 most important religious holidays in Buddhist countries. Today is regarded as perhaps the most "holiest" of days. Today marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Worshippers go to the wat (temples) to listen to monks give sermons, give alms and make merit. Making merit is giving offerings to monks and to the Buddha relics. The people also try to keep the 5 precepts of Buddhism on this day. After dark worshippers can participate in a ceremony in which people carry 3 incensce sticks, a lighted candle and a lotus bud. With this in hand, the people walk in circles 3 times around the temple. The number 3 is significant for birth, enlightement and death. People are given the day off of work to participate in ceremonies.
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