Festivals & Holidays

• Most of Brunei’s events and festivals are religiously oriented, but there are also holidays that commemorate important historical events. 
• The First Day of Hijrah, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, and Chinese New Year don’t have fixed dates and other notable celebrations include National Day and the Sultan’s Birthday.

Holidays

New Year’s Day

The New Year’s Eve (December 31) celebration kicks off with locals playing tennis, golf, squash, scuba diving, bowling, kayaking, and even windsurfing in anticipation of New Year’s Day. Come January 1st, there are fireworks displays and exuberant gatherings for families and friends.

Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday

An Islamic holiday without a fixed date, Muhammad’s Birthday usually falls in January/February. The Sultan and the rest of the royal Brunei family typically lead a procession throughout Bandar Seri Begawan.

Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day is celebrated every May 31 to pay tribute to the dedicated men and women behind the Royal Brunei army. You will see displays of artillery, exhibitions, parachuting, and military parades.

Sultan’s Birthday

July 15 is Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s birthday. He is the 29th Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of the country, and is also the first Prime Minister of Brunei. He was born in 1946 in Brunei Town, which is currently known as the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

First Day of Hijra

This day celebrates the migration of the prophet Muhammad and his followers to Medina from Mecca. This festival also marks the Islamic New Year, so it doesn’t have a fixed date but typically falls in June/July.

End of Ramadan

Eid al-Fitr is the celebrated at the end of Ramadan or the month of fasting, which is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. There is also no set date, but it usually takes place in August. Children are given presents and money, and everyone wears new clothes. Muslims go to the mosque in the morning for special Eid prayers, worship and thanksgiving. The rest of the day is all about eating and socializing with friends and family.

Christmas Day

Brunei celebrates Christmas on December 25 like the rest of the world with family gatherings and gifts.

Language

1. Malay

   Brunei, Official language
2. There are a number of languages spoken in Brunei. The official language of the state of Brunei is standard Malay, the same Malaccan dialect that is the basis for the standards in Malaysia and Indonesia. This came into force on 29 September 1959, with the signing of Brunei 1959 Constitution.

3. Standard Malay

   The Malay language is the standard language for many of the peoples of Maritime Southeast Asia and is spoken as a lingua franca in Brunei. The official standard for the language, has been defined and agreed upon by the Language and Literature Bureaus of Indonesia,Malaysia and Brunei. Standard Malay is also accepted in the printed form and is used in all official Brunei government media.
4. 
5. 

1. 
   

Religion

1. Among religions in Brunei, Sunni Islam is predominant. 67% of the population is Islamic. However, other religions also have a considerable foothold in Brunei. 13% of the population is Buddhist and another 10% is Christian.
2. Islam is the state religion of Brunei, but freedom of religion is guaranteed. The right to practice privately is given to a plethora of religions.Furthermore, some non-Islamic holidays, such as Christmas, are recognized. However, these rights are limited: religious education is controlled, even in private schools, and any non-Islamic religious materials being distributed are subject to confiscation.

   The state madh'hab of Islam is Shafi'i. Most of Brunei's Muslim population subscribe to the Shafi'i school as well, and Shafi'i is a major source of law for the country. However, with the Sultan's permission, lawmakers may also consult the other three Sunni schools of fiqh.
3. 
4. 
   

City and Town

Brunei officially the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace (Malay: Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: نڬارا بروني دارالسلام), is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia; and it is separated into two parts by the Sarawak district of Limbang.

There is 4 towns:

• Bandar Seri Begawan, (Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Council)
• Kuala Belait  (Kuala Belait/Seria Municipal Council)
• Seria  (Kuala Belait/Seria Municipal Council)
• Tutong  (Tutong Municipal Council)

Other locations within Brunei

• Bangar - administrative centre of the Temburong district
• Muara Town - contains the only deep sea port of Brunei
• Sukang
• Panaga

KUALA BELAIT

Bandar Seri BegaWAN

SERIA

TUTONG