Songkran
Thai New Year is marked by water battles, parades with Buddha and cleaning the house. Celebrations last for three days.
This morning of January 1st, in the usual “news parade” for New Year’s Eve celebrations across the planet, we have already heard that the New Year also arrived at Thailand, where this passage is celebrated for three days.
It’s not quite like that…
I mean, Thailand actually has a tradition of celebrating New Year over three days. But it’s not on January 1st.
New Year in Thailand is – as in other countries – marked on another date. Or on other dates: between April 13th and 15th.
O Songkran is the Thai New Year festival. Follow the Buddhist calendar. In other words, we are in the year… 2567. In April, Thailand enters the year 2568.
Songkran is marked by water battleswhere people wet each other. Water represents renewal, symbolizes purity – innocent minds and kind hearts, reminds us of .
Water is seen as a means of washing away bad energy and bringing luck for the new year.
Other traditions include cleaning of Buddhist houses and templesofferings of food and flowers. You monks receive food in temples (in a very religious country).
This celebration is also synonymous with stay close to family; ask for forgiveness and your blessing for the new year.
The capital Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the cities with the most exuberant celebrations, with parades, parties and cultural events.
And it became a phase of greater movement of tourists.
