Sudsawad's Blog - 3rd April 2010

Thai New Year

What is Songkran?

We are fast approaching that very exciting holiday time that the locals call Songkran. Songkran marks the beginning of a new solar year and literally means to “move into”. (referring to the movement of the sun into Aries in April) These holidays start on April the 13th every year with Maha Songkran day, and lasts for 3 wacky and fun filled days. Days of making new friends, acting like carefree kids and having a great time. The best way to describe it, is an annual nationwide party that has to be experienced to be believed.

This is a time of new beginnings and of giving thanks for blessings received. It is also a time for cleaning your house and respecting your elders. People who work in the city will return to their home towns all over the country to celebrate the festival. They will give gifts to their families and show respect to their elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of parents and grandparents whilst receiving blessings of good luck and prosperity in return. If you are working in Bangkok you'll find the streets abnormally quiet.

Thai people visit temples to listen to sermons, offer food and alms to the monks and cleanse the Buddha images by bathing them in scented water. The significance of the water is to cleanse. It cancels all the ills and misfortunes, and reverses past offences thereby cleaning the slate for the New Year. The white powdery paste that you will be smeared with is a sign of protection, and its job is to ward off evil spirits.

Songkran is celebrated at the end of the dry season, during the period when the Thai nation prepares itself for new crops and good harvests. It is therefore also associated with fertility and is the perfect time for festive parades and for contests to choose the most beautiful girls to be the local Miss Songkran. Traditionally this was a time for courtships and new relationships and in some areas the tradition continues to this day.

On Maha Songkran day which is the first of the three days, the old year is usually sent on its way with lots of fire crackers. This helps to keep the evil spirits away whilst gardens, Buddha images and houses are cleansed.

Then comes the fun part where everybody throngs to the streets with one purpose in mind and that is to get as wet as possible in the biggest and friendliest water fight ever. Everybody is fair game, whether you are a policeman, bus driver or an english teacher, expect a soaking - it is considered bad luck to argue during this time. Rather arm yourself with a decent water gun or a good bucket and join in the fun. Make sure that you keep your watch, camera and cell phone stored in a watertight bag, and go find somebody to bless with the cool respite of water. After all, it is summer in Thailand -- you will dry off soon enough!

Enjoy the holidays!