04-13-09 Songkran - Thai New Year

Today is officially the first day of Songkran or Thai New Year. The banks, all government offices and everything that does not deal with servicing this celebration is closed for the next three days.

Mae Sai, Thailnd, where we live during this part of the year, is now very crowded as people come from all over to celebrate with families and go shopping.

Daeng told me this morning that she had to buy a lot of food and supplies for her Som-Ton Papaya Salad Stand as even the morning market would close down some tomorrow and completely on Wednesday. To my understanding, Wednesday is the only day in the year that the morning market closes down completely.

During this time many folks make New Year resolutions - to refrain from bad behavior, or to do good things. Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Besides washing household Buddha images, many Thais also take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning.

The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by gently pouring a small amount of water on other people’s hands or over a shoulder as a sign of respect.

New Year celebration, Rodnam Damhua, a traditional way to celebrate with elders. Most Thai people go back to their hometowns to meet their elders.

Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has further evolved into BIG water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles.

Today it seems the emphasis is on fun and water-throwing rather than on the festival's spiritual and religious aspects, which sometimes prompts complaints from traditionalists.

Myself, I love to watch the Thai kids using squirt guns and throwing water to celebrate.

In recent years there have been calls to moderate the festival to lessen the many alcohol-related road accidents as well as injuries attributed to extreme behavior such as water being thrown in the faces of traveling motorcyclists.

We love and respect the sprinkling of water to help cleanse the spirit but feel that the throwing of buckets of water on people driving on motorbikes is an act of terrorism!

The year it is against the law to sell alcoholic beverages during the next three days, April 13th-15th. Personally, I don't think that will slow down the parties at all.

According to wikipedia.org the Thai New Year is celebrated every year from April 13 to April 15. It coincides with the New Year of many Dai calendar (possibly also Thai lunar calendar) in South and Southeast Asia.

The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off are taken on the weekdays immediately following. If they fall in the middle of the week, many Thai take off from the previous Friday until the following Monday. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Until 1888 the Thai New Year was the beginning of the year in Thailand; thereafter 1 April was used until 1940. 1 January is now the beginning of the year. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since then.

Until recently Thailand was almost entirely an agricultural society and this has been a perfect time to take break from the business of earning a living. The rice harvest is in, and replanting has to await the coming of the rains.

Oh, and don't forget the dancing!

There is also a very lively three nations boat racing event and other local entertainment for all to enjoy.

A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IT IS as the whole country stops and parties for five or six days. Three years ago we were in Pattaya, Thailand for this holiday and the streets were all closed to traffic as the people were parting in the streets. Here is a video link to show you: Songkran Festival Jomtien Beach

Jomtien Beach is the next beach east of Pattaya.

Another benefit of living in Thailand is the holiday-loving Thais get to celebrate New Year three times each year: the Western New Year on January 1, the Chinese New Year in February, and the Thai New Year in April. Yea, more parties!

I love parties but I'm leaving the internet cafe that I'm writing in. I going to try and make it beck to the pad without getting too wet.

I'll hide out for the afternoon and come out into the world again tonight.

They don't throw water after the sun sets.

Here are some more videos wishing you a "HAPPY THAI NEW YEAR from the girls and boys in Pattaya (Sometimes in Thailand the best looking girls are boys!): Pattaya New Year 2008 Part 1

Here is part II: Pattaya New Year 2008 Part 2

How about some more water or some chalk?: Songkran in Pattaya.......wanna get wet???

Okay, that is enough!!!!!!!