Songkran... The History of Thai New Year

🌈💦 Songkran Festival is a world-renowned Thai New Year celebration, officially known as the 'Songkran Tradition,' which was registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2023. 🌈💦 Meaning and Origin The word 'Songkran' comes from Sanskrit, meaning 'movement,' referring to the movement of the zodiac into the new year according to the solar calendar. Therefore, the Songkran Festival symbolizes the beginning of the new year and change. ⏰ Date and Duration Generally, the Songkran Festival is held from April 13-15 every year, but in some areas, the duration may be extended, such as in northern Thailand, where the celebration lasts for a week. 🌈 Activities and Traditions The Songkran Festival is filled with various activities and traditions that reflect Thai culture and way of life, such as: * Making merit and offering alms: People go to temples to make merit, offer food to monks, and listen to sermons for good fortune. * Bathing the Buddha: Showing respect to Buddha images by pouring water over them for blessings. * Pouring water on elders: Showing respect to elders by pouring water on their hands to ask for blessings and express gratitude. * Water splashing: A fun and popular activity where people splash water on each other to cool off and have fun. * Building sand pagodas: Creating sand pagodas decorated with flags and flowers. * Traditional games: Each region of Thailand has different traditional games, such as saba game, Mon hiding cloth game, and Nang Songkran game. 🪷 Cultural Significance The Songkran Festival is culturally significant as it is a time for people to return home to reunite with family and relatives, show gratitude to elders, and preserve Thai traditions and culture. 💦 Today, the Songkran Festival has become popular among tourists worldwide, especially the water splashing activity, which brings joy and memorable experiences.