1999年12月15日，联合国承认卫塞节为国际节日。向联合国申请承认卫塞节的是斯里兰卡。卫塞节是佛历中最重要的节日，落在五月的满月日。它庆祝佛陀悉达多乔达摩的三个重要事件，即其诞生、觉悟和涅槃。如今卫塞节在国际上受到承认，包括联合国办事处和教科文组织。首届世界性联合国卫塞节庆典于2000年5月15日举行，共有34个国家参加。
An international day of Vesak was recognised by the United Nations on 15 December 1999. Vesak falls on the full moon day of May. The proposal to declare Vesak as an international public holiday was tabled at the United Nations General Assembly by Sri Lanka. Vesak is the most important Buddhist holiday in the Buddhist calendar that celebrates three important events—the birth, full awakening, and the passing away—of the historical Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. United Nations Day of Vesak is now internationally celebrated iin the UN offices and UNESCO. The first Vesak celebration in the UN was held on 15 May 2000, 34 countries were represented.