Bodhi Day 2016

Bodhi Day is an important Buddhist holiday that is celebrated on December 08, 2016. Traditionally, the date is determined by the 8th day of the 12th month of the lunisolar calendar, which means that the date is slightly different every year. But western Buddhists and Buddhists in Japan celebrate Bodhi Day always on December 8th. Especially followers of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition observe this day to celebrate the enlightenment of Gautama Siddhartha, who became the Buddha.

Other Buddhist traditions celebrate the birth, the enlightenment and the death of Buddha as one holiday which is called Vesak. Bodhi Day is not celebrated as extensively as Vesak. Many Buddhists spend the day meditating or the studying the Dharma, Buddha's teachings. Because Buddha has experienced his enlightenment sitting under a fig tree, fig trees are decorated with colored lights and three shining ornaments, which represent the jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the Buddhist community.