What Do You Know about the Thailand Buddhist New Year?

@pauliek (287)
Udon Thani, Thailand
April 11, 2016 10:12pm CST
The Thai Buddhist New Year or Songkran Festival is celebrated every April 13-15. This will be the start of year 2559 in the Buddhist calendar. It is the biggest holiday of the year for all Thai who usually travel to their homes for reunions. The Chinese call Songkran the Water Splashing Festival because it seems like everyone is pouring, squirting, or throwing water during this hottest time of the year. For the past week, it has been over 100 during the day. Many people also travel and there are a lot of parties. Have any of my readers experienced a Songkran Festival?
5 people like this
5 responses
joy
@MGjhaud (23240)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
didnt even know that they do have their own new year until you mentioned it. must be fun too..
1 person likes this
joy
@MGjhaud (23240)
• Philippines
13 Apr 16
@pauliek oh, we have that here. we call it San Juan Day Festival where people celebrate it by wetting everyone they see.
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Paul Kuehn
@pauliek (287)
• Udon Thani, Thailand
13 Apr 16
@MGjhaud , If you like throwing water and getting wet, the Songkran festival can be a lot of fun.
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scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
12 Apr 16
i sure avoid going to Thailand during this time. The hotel is expensive, and the weather is at the hottest of the year. Plus the risk of getting drenched over and over, and you cannot get angry when you are drenched!
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Paul Kuehn
@pauliek (287)
• Udon Thani, Thailand
17 Apr 16
Yes, the weather and temperatures have been brutal at an average of 41 C for at least the past week, I have stayed away from the water fights this year. At my age, I am too old for them!
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scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
17 Apr 16
@pauliek I think they do not care whether you are old or not. As long as they can soak you wet from head to toe, they will be happy to do so.
hereandthere
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
we're only familiar with the chinese new year. what food do the thais prepare and eat for songkran? do they have special activities in their temples? do they wear special clothes?
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Paul Kuehn
@pauliek (287)
• Udon Thani, Thailand
17 Apr 16
The Thai really don't eat any special food, but there are a lot of activities in the temple such as presenting money trees as offerings to the temple and monks. All elders in the village are honored by the young pouring water over their hands. Each village also has a parade on the third or last day of the Songkran holiday.
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Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (37381)
• Toccoa, Georgia
26 Aug 16
I never knew any of this. Thanks for sharing about it.
Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
16 Apr 16
Not me personally, but my daughter and her husband live there, so were in the midst of it. She looked very tired when we skyped yesterday!
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Paul Kuehn
@pauliek (287)
• Udon Thani, Thailand
17 Apr 16
The weather has been oppressively hot with temps over 100 F, 41 C for the past week. If she was outside playing in the water, I can see how she would be tired!
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