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How much do you know about Thai New Year?

Many foreigners who never visited Thailand during April might not know that Thailand also has its own New Year which is called Songkran.

It is such a long period for Thai people to have thier holiday, but the official celebrated dates every year is from April 13 to April 15. Thai people celebrate by throwing water, why is that ?

If you have seen from telelvision, Thai people seem to celebrate Songkran by throwing water, they roam the streets with containers of water or water guns, or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. I don't think that many people know exactly how this klind of celebration comes from.

Originally , most of Thai people will go to temple in the moring to make a merit and also gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance over the Buddha images. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. Since many people will have long holiday during this period, they will also go back home and take this opportunity to visit their parents or grandparents. Besides religious aspects toward Bhudda images, they also show respect to elder people by gently pouring a small amount of lustral water on other people’s hands or over a shoulder which considered as a sign of respect.


Also in the north of Thailand, people may carry handfuls of sand to their neighborhood monastery to recompense the dirt that they have carried away on their feet during the rest of the year.The sand will be built into stupa-shaped piles and the colourful flgags will be decorated on it.

You know that April is the hottest month in Thailand, right? Maybe that's one of the reasons why Thai people have Songkran festival in this month, who knows?

I do like Songkran Festival....lots of fun when you splashing around the water and everyone is sure to get wet ha ha ha....Cool experience under Thailand's tropical sunshine !!!

One thing that has never changed up untill now ; This is a big occasion for family reunion.


Beware if you are going to traval during the festival as there is a huge number of people who plan to go ' home ' and reports of accidents always arise during that time.

Songkran in Thai word also means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck. So let's enjoy this festival in Thailand next year and you will get the good luck !!!

Songkran is a Sanskrit word in Thai form which means the entry of the sun into any sign of the Zodiac. But the Songkran in this particular instance is when the sun enters the sign of Aries or the Ram. Its full name is Maha Songkran or Major Songkran to distinguish it from the other ones. But the people call it simply the Songkran for it is the only one they know and in which they take interest. It is their traditional New Year when they can enjoy their holidays to the full with no economic hindrance. Songkran is a fixable feast on the solar calender. It begins on the 13th April and ends on the 15th April, but occasionally in certain years on the 16th April. The Songkran is in fact the celebration of the vernal equinox similar to those of the Indian Holi Festival, the Chinese Ching Ming, and the Christian Festival of Easter.
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