BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ExcelNotes - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:ExcelNotes X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://excelnotes.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ExcelNotes REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250530 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250601 DTSTAMP:20260509T095221 CREATED:20250118T234311Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250118T234311Z UID:10000196-1748563200-1748735999@excelnotes.com SUMMARY:Kaamatan Festival DESCRIPTION:The Kaamatan Festival\, also known as the Harvest Festival\, is an annual celebration in the Malaysian state of Sabah and other indigenous communities. It is a time of thanksgiving for a bountiful rice harvest and is deeply rooted in the traditions\, spirituality\, and culture of these communities. \nTable of Contents\n\nWhen is Kaamatan Festival?\nThe History of Kaamatan Festival?\nWhat Do People Do on This Day?\nThe Kadazan-Dusun and Murut\n\nWhen is Kaamatan Festival?\nKaamatan Festival is celebrated throughout May\, culminating on May 30th and 31st with grand festivities in Sabah and Labuan\, Malaysia. \nThe following is the list of Kaamatan Festival from 2020 to 2049. \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n HolidayDay oneDay two\n\n\n\n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2020May 31\, 2020 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2021May 31\, 2021 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2022May 31\, 2022 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2023May 31\, 2023 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2024May 31\, 2024 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2025May 31\, 2025 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2026May 31\, 2026 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2027May 31\, 2027 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2028May 31\, 2028 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2029May 31\, 2029 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2030May 31\, 2030 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2031May 31\, 2031 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2032May 31\, 2032 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2033May 31\, 2033 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2034May 31\, 2034 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2035May 31\, 2035 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2036May 31\, 2036 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2037May 31\, 2037 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2038May 31\, 2038 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2039May 31\, 2039 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2040May 31\, 2040 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2041May 31\, 2041 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2042May 31\, 2042 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2043May 31\, 2043 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2044May 31\, 2044 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2045May 31\, 2045 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2046May 31\, 2046 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2047May 31\, 2047 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2048May 31\, 2048 \n \n Kaamatan FestivalMay 30\, 2049May 31\, 2049 \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\nThe History of Kaamatan Festival\nThe Kaamatan Festival is a centuries-old tradition celebrated predominantly by the indigenous communities of Sabah and Labuan\, Malaysia. Its history is deeply intertwined with the agricultural\, spiritual\, and cultural practices of these communities\, particularly their reverence for rice as a sacred crop and a source of life. \nThe Kaamatan Festival originated as a thanksgiving ceremony to honor Bambaazon\, the spirit of rice. In Kadazan-Dusun and Murut indigenous beliefs\, rice is not merely a crop but a divine gift from the rice spirit\, which resides in every grain. \nEarly Kaamatan celebrations were deeply spiritual\, involving rituals conducted by Bobohizans (priestesses or shamans). These rituals ensured the blessing of Bambaazon\, protection of crops\, and a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world. \nDuring British colonization\, agricultural practices in Sabah evolved\, but the indigenous communities preserved their traditional beliefs and rituals associated with the rice harvest. \nThe British recognized the significance of the Kaamatan Festival in uniting Sabah's indigenous groups and began documenting its practices. \nAfter Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963\, Kaamatan gained official recognition as a state celebration\, emphasizing its importance in Sabah's cultural identity. \nToday\, Kaamatan has grown beyond its spiritual and agricultural origins to become a significant cultural and tourism event\, drawing local and international visitors. \n \nWhat Do People Do on This Day?\nA sacred ritual led by the Bobohizan (high priestess) to appease and honor Bambaazon\, the rice spirit. A symbolic thanksgiving ritual marking the conclusion of the harvest season. \nCultural dances like the Sumazau (graceful arm movements)\, Mogunatip (bamboo dance)\, and other indigenous dances are performed\, accompanied by gong music. \nElders share myths\, legends and historical tales to preserve oral traditions. \nTraditional games like arm wrestling\, blowpipe contests\, slingshot challenges and rice-winnowing races are held during the festival. \nFamilies and friends gather to share meals\, exchange stories and strengthen social bonds. Villages organize communal celebrations with music\, dancing and games. \nLocal and international artists perform\, blending traditional and contemporary music. \nThe Kadazan-Dusun and Murut\nThe Kadazan-Dusun \nThe Kadazan-Dusun is the largest indigenous ethnic group in the Malaysian state of Sabah\, located on the island of Borneo. They are known for their rich cultural heritage and agricultural traditions. \nThe term Kadazan-Dusun refers collectively to two closely related groups: the Kadazan and Dusun peoples. They share similar languages\, cultural practices\, and traditions\, though historically lived in different regions. Kadazan live in the lowlands and Dusun live in the highlands. \nEstimated at around 700\,000\, they are the largest indigenous group in Sabah. Traditionally animist\, worshipping spirits of nature and ancestors\, with rice being sacred. Today\, the majority are Christian (Roman Catholic or Protestant)\, with a significant number practicing Islam or maintaining traditional beliefs. \nAgriculture\, particularly rice farming\, is central to their culture and spiritual beliefs. The rice spirit\, Bambaazon\, is revered as a source of life and sustenance. \nThe Kadazan-Dusun people are politically active and contribute significantly to Sabah's leadership and development. While many Kadazan-Dusun people live in rural areas\, practicing agriculture\, others have moved to cities\, taking up modern professions. \nMurut \nThe Murut people are an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in the interior regions of Sabah\, Malaysia\, with smaller populations in parts of Sarawak\, Brunei\, and Indonesia. \nThe name Murut means "hill people" or "people of the mountains" in their native language\, reflecting their traditional settlement in hilly\, forested areas. They are the third-largest indigenous group in Sabah\, after the Kadazan-Dusun and Bajau. \nEstimated at around 120\,000 people\, predominantly in the interior districts of Sabah such as Tenom\, Keningau\, Nabawan\, and Pensiangan. \nThe Murut were historically swidden agriculturalists\, practicing slash-and-burn farming to cultivate hill paddy (rice). Hunting and gathering in the forest were integral to their way of life\, with blowpipes and spears as traditional hunting tools. While many Murut continue farming\, others have transitioned to modern professions such as teaching\, civil service and business. \nTraditionally animist\, worshiping natural spirits and ancestors. Today\, many Murut are Christian (primarily Roman Catholic and Protestant)\, with a smaller number practicing Islam or maintaining traditional beliefs. URL:https://excelnotes.com/holiday/kaamatan-festival/ CATEGORIES:Cultural Holiday ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://excelnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kaamatan-Festival.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR