Feast of Lanterns    • Buddhist festivals      TITLE: Buddhism:
Anniversaries     SECTION: Anniversaries     The three major
events of the Buddha’s life—his birth, enlightenment, and
entrance into final nirvana—are commemorated in all Buddhist
countries but not everywhere on the same day. In Theravada
countries the three events are all observed together on Vesak,
the full moon day of the sixth lunar month (Vesakha), which
usually occurs in May. In Japan and other Mahayana countries,...
• Korean performing arts      TITLE: Korean performing arts:
Koryŏ period     SECTION: Koryŏ period     The two major court
festivals at which performances were held during the Koryŏ
period (935–1392) were Buddha’s birthday, or the Feast of
Lanterns, in the second lunar month, and the midwinter ceremony
honouring spirits of local gods. Dances and masked plays from
Silla times were carefully preserved and performed on these
occasions in a specially decorated and candlelit ceremonial...