Thai New Year, also known as Songkran, is celebrated with excitement. The holiday usually falls in mid-April, and it marks the beginning of the Thai solar calendar. Songkran is not only a time for fun and festivities but also a time to honor traditional customs and pay respect to elders and ancestors.
The origins of Songkran can be traced back to ancient Buddhist traditions. In Thailand, the holiday has always been associated with water, as it is believed to cleanse and purify the soul. According to legend, water was first used during Songkran to wash the feet of the Buddha, and the practice has since evolved into the modern-day water festival.
During Songkran, Thai people splash water on each other, often using water guns or buckets, in a playful and fun way. The water symbolizes renewal, as well as the washing away of sins and bad luck. In addition to water play, Songkran also involves offerings of food and flowers to Buddhist monks, as well as the building of sand pagodas.
Here are some useful Thai vocabulary words to get you started:
สงกรานต์ (Songkran) - the Thai New Year
วันหยุดสงกรานต์ (Wan yuut Songkran) - Songkran holiday
น้ำ (Nam) - water
พิธี (Piti) - ceremony
ประเพณี (Bpra-pae-nee) - tradition
วัด (Wat) - temple
พระ (Phra) - monk or Buddha image
สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์ (Suk-san-wan-Songkran) - Happy Songkran Day!
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