Besides the Gregorian New Year, countries in Southeast Asia have their own New Year celebrations with unique traditions. These New Year celebrations each have their own history, meaning, and purpose that distinguish them from one another.
Laos New Year - Pi Mai
The Laos New Year celebration takes place over 3 days in April, with various different activities. "Sabaidee Pi Mai" is the greeting used by Laotian people.
On the first day of Pi Mai, Laotian people will clean their houses, paint temples, and cleanse Buddha statues with flower scented water. This water is then collected to splash on family members, as it is considered a blessing.
The second day is the most festive peak day, featuring a water festival with various music and traditional dance performances, parades, sports competitions, and beauty pageant. During this celebration, people gather in the streets, splashing water on each other as a symbol of cleansing bad luck from the previous year and welcoming the new year with a good start.
On the third day, Laotian families gather for the Baci ceremony, marking the beginning of the new year, where younger family members pour water on elders, wishing for health, peace, and happiness. The elders then provide reflections and hopes for family members. The celebration is accompanied by a communal meal and visiting temples to seek forgiveness.
Cambodia New Year - Chaul Chnam Thmey
Chaul Chnam Thmey means 'Enter the New Year' in Khmer. This New Year celebration usually takes place from April 14-16, which is the end of the harvest season. Farmers will enjoy their rest before the rainy season arrives.
The first day of the celebration is called Moha Sangkran, where people welcome the new angels for the year. Cambodian people will clean and decorate their homes and prepare food for monks at the temple.
The second day is called Wanabot, where people give gifts to elders, donate or share with the less fortunate, and build sand temples to remember deceased family members and ask monks to provide blessings for them.
The third day is called Leung Sak, which marks the official start of the new year. On this day, the 'Pithi Srang Preah' ceremony is held, where people sprinkle water on elders, Buddha statues, and monks to ask forgiveness for their mistakes from the previous year.
Thailand New Year - Songkran
The Songkran celebration is usually held in mid-April during summer in Thailand. Songkran refers to the annual solar transition to the Aries constellation, the first zodiac sign, which traditionally marks the start of the new year. In 2023, Songkran was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
During Songkran, there is a ceremony of pouring scented water on Buddha images in temples, followed by pouring water on elders as a sign of respect the next day.
One of the important events of this celebration is the Maha Songkran parade involving thousands of performances. Cultural and musical performances can also be seen in various areas during the festival.
Water fights will take place in special areas equipped with dancing fountains, water tunnels, giant pools, and water stations. Water guns and buckets are also available to complement the water festival's excitement.
Myanmar New Year - Thingyan
'Thingyan' originates from the Sanskrit word samkrānti, meaning 'period of transition' from the old year to the new year. This celebration is usually held in mid-April for 4 or 5 days.
Thingyan is rooted in ancient Hindu beliefs but has been developed under the protection of the Buddhist kingdom in Myanmar. The King of Gods, Śakra or Thagya Min in Burmese, is considered the guardian of Buddhism.
Five days of Thingyan:
- A-kyo nei, the day when various religious activities begin.
- A-kya nei, the day Thagya Min descends to earth, symbolized by the start of the water throwing tradition.
- A-kyat nei, the day Thagya Min visits earth.
- A-tet nei, the last day of Thagya Min on earth before returning to heaven, water throwing stops on this day.
- Hnit hsan ta yet nei, on this day Myanmar people make new year's resolutions and visit elders to pay respects.
During the water festival, people will spray water at each other in the streets while dancing and singing traditional Myanmar music. Young people wear their traditional clothing.
A special dish prepared and served by many during Thingyan is mont lone yay baw, small glutinous rice dumplings with jaggery, some possibly filled with chili as a joke.
Vietnam New Year - Tet Nguyen Dan
Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply called Tet, is a New Year celebration usually held in the first month of the lunar calendar, around January or February. Tet Nguyen Dan means 'The First Morning of the New Year'.
Tet is one of the most anticipated celebrations and holidays in Vietnam, where family members can gather, visit relatives, and pray at temples. Families' homes also provide traditional Tet dishes like banh chung and banh tet.
On New Year's Eve, a ritual of offering to ancestors is held. Each family prepares a tray of traditional food to invite ancestors to enjoy Tet with the family and pray for a peaceful and lucky new year.
One important tradition of the New Year is Xông đất, the tradition of the first guest entering the house during the New Year. The host will invite a guest with good character because the first person entering the house is believed to determine the family's fortune for the coming year.
Parents or elderly usually give lucky money to the young children, hoping for health, peace, and intelligence for them. This lucky money is called 'Li xi'.
Source:
- Valerie Olla (2023). Sabaidee Pi Mai Lao! Happy New Year!. https://www.ockpoptok.com/blog/sabaidee-pi-mai-lao/
- Chanlee Saray-Yim (2019). Reporter’s Notebook: Celebrating Cambodian New Year. https://america.cgtn.com/2019/04/23/reporters-notebook-celebrating-cambodian-new-year
- Karla Cripps (2024). Water fights, cultural traditions and new beginnings: A guide to Songkran, Thailand’s annual New Year festival. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/songkran-thailand-new-year-festival-2024-intl-hnk/index.html
- Dr Yuri Takahashi and Gouri Banerji (2024). A Splash of Culture and Tradition: ‘Thingyan’ or the Myanmar New Year Water Festival. https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/content-centre/article/news/splash-culture-and-tradition-thingyan-or-myanmar-new-year-water
- Vietnam Visa (2023). Vietnamese New Year: Tet Holiday Dates, Animals, Food, and Traditions. https://www.myvietnamvisa.com/vietnamese-new-year-tet-holiday-dates-animals-food-and-traditions.html
