Today May 08 is the Buddhist sacred day of Vesak (a full moon day). Today, 2550 odd years ago the Buddha was told to have been born then at the age of 35 attained Enlightenment and passed away at the age of 80. This may or may not be true but according to Buddhist tradition this is thus.
On many discussion boards, i have seen many people from around the world become a bit disappointed to know that lay Buddhists practice old and more Hindu oriented practices like worship of various deities for many reasons. This is of course can be attributed to our heritage from neighboring India and also a human factor where people feel their problems can be told to someone higher than them in hope of gains when the mind is weak and lonely. I too may one day ask silently for a miracle 
But today is truthfully a Buddhist day where many sermons and various festivities are organized.
Some interesting features are Vesak thoran (Vesak Pandals), Vesak Kudu (Vesak Lanterns), Dhansal (Alms halls) and Observing of Sil.
Vesak thoran are immense structures created from wood, cloth, boards and bulbs which usually depicts a story from the Buddhist Jatakas. These often feature 50,000 or more bulbs which light according to beautiful patterns.
Vesak Kudu or Lanterns are structures (usually an “Atapattama” which is a made using 6 bamboo squares welded together & covered in colored paper) which are made in all homes, even by non Buddhists such as Christians and Tamils which are lighted and hung on Vesak day in homes.
Dhansal are truelly kind and self devoid activities where hundreds and thousands of people are given food (rice and curry), drinks and other food items like Manioc, Ice cream, Biscuits, fruit freely by groups of villagers, philanthropists, businessman and citizens. There are countless such places around Sri Lanka each year no matter how hard the people struggle to make a living. This has been so for many centuries and is tradition. Not only Buddhists but Muslims, Christians and Hindus also Participate and come to Dhansal which makes the organizers very happy and we wish them good fortune and offer merit though this is not a must. It is customary for families and youngsters to go on Vans, Lorries, Bicycles and foot to these from town to town. We call the “Dhansal Wandinwa” in Sinhala or Paying homage to Dhansal.
Observing Sil is done by lay followers on sacred days such as today where they follow a Buddhist monk in meditation and Dhamma sermons observing “Ata Sil” or the Eight Precepts instead of the daily five precepts or “Pan Sil. They observe this for 24hrs and many Buddhist customs are adhered to. Thousands of Buddhists observe Sil each month in Sri Lanka and the World.
So i wish all of you a good and meritorious Wesak (Priti Wesak).
Jax
This is my first visit here, but I will be back soon, because I really like the way you are writing, it is so simple and honest
Thanks Holgie. You can register and post articles as well if you have some time.