Karen (Kayin) New Year is celebrated in Myanmar and among the Karen diaspora, occurring on December 19. This holiday marks the end of the rice harvest and is observed by the Karen people, who make up about 7% of Myanmar's population. The celebration includes traditional customs such as eating steamed sticky rice, wearing traditional clothing, and participating in various cultural events like dancing contests, parades, and exhibitions highlighting Kayin history. The holiday has its roots in the migration of the Kayin tribes from Mongolia over 2,700 years ago and was officially recognized as a public holiday in Myanmar in 2009, following a history of tension between the Karen community and the Burmese majority. The best-known dance performed during the celebrations is the don dance, which has become a shared cultural heritage among the Karen people.