Happy Thai New Year to all of our Thai au pairs and their host families! Known as Songkran, Thai New Year is celebrated every year from April 13th-15th. Beloved by adults and kids alike, the festival centers around water, and on this day throwing water on someone is seen as a sign of respect. But it’s about more than just water and fun.
PATA (The Pacific Asia Travel Association) wrote a few tips this year for getting the most out of Songkran. Some suggestions:
- Understand and benefit from the spiritual side of the festival. Remember that during the New Year festival, the temple activities are the most important aspects of the celebration.
- The custom of pouring water onto the hand of elders’ (people above 60 years old), is to show respect and seek their New Year blessings. This custom is called the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual.
- Water used to splash on others should be clean or mixed with Thai traditional fragrances. Avoid throwing water aggressively or using high-pressure water guns or hoses.
And in Thailand, celebrations and traditions and even the date vary from region to region. Read more about it in PATA’s blog post, and share with us how you celebrated Songkran! Leave a comment or connect with us on Twitter @aupairinamerica.
