- Preparation for the holiday
- New Year's table
- The first day of the holiday
- The second day of the holiday
- The third day of the holiday
- European holiday
New Year's celebrations in Cambodia play an important role in the calendar rituals of the state, as they are imbued with deep national symbols and filled with special meaning. The New Year falls on the period from April 14 to April 16, it is celebrated on a large scale and is accompanied by folk festivals, as well as official events.
Preparation for the holiday
Cambodians begin to prepare for the celebration in advance. As a rule, preparation includes several stages, the most important of which are:
- thorough cleaning of the premises and the area around the house;
- throwing away all old things;
- purchase of gifts and products for preparing a New Year's dinner;
- distribution of debts taken last year;
- decoration of rooms with compositions of fresh flowers.
In large cities and villages, the central streets are cleaned, the trees are painted white, and the lawns are cut in such a way that the national ornament can be seen on them. Also, a few weeks before the holiday, many stores arrange sales, where you can buy goods at low cost.
New Year's table
The gastronomic preferences of local residents have been formed over several centuries and represent a harmonious combination of Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisines. The basis of almost all dishes is rice of various varieties.
Cambodian housewives prepare a large number of national dishes for the New Year, the central place among which is occupied by:
- baicha (fried rice with seafood and palm oil);
- un-som-chro (rice with seasoning and pork);
- homemade rice flour noodles with soy sauce;
- un-som-che (a dessert made of rice and baked bananas);
- kiteou (fish soup with noodles and lime juice);
- amok (chicken stewed in coconut milk);
- nom com (cake with caramel);
- fruit pudding.
Alcoholic drinks on the New Year's table include beer, palm wine and various alcoholic liqueurs. Cooked meals are consumed for three days, and this is a kind of tradition that brings good luck next year.
The first day of the holiday
April 14 is the date that marks the arrival of the Cambodian New Year. Residents of the state call this day Songkran. The morning begins with the fact that everyone puts on their new and most beautiful clothes, and then they light scented candles in their homes. It is also customary to wash your face with holy water in the morning. An interesting fact is that the body is washed in parts throughout the day. So, at 12 o'clock, you should sprinkle holy water on your torso, and wash your feet late in the evening. Such a ritual, according to Cambodians, is a guarantee of health in the new year. However, the water is often colored blue, pink or red, symbolizing well-being.
After lunch, everyone goes to the temple, on the territory of which small hills of sand are made, where flags with religious symbols are stuck. Visitors to the temple enter the central hall and be sure to bow before the Buddha statue three times. Prayers during Songkran are associated with gratitude to the supreme deity for wise instructions and his teachings to mere mortals.
The second day of the holiday
Virak Ouanamat is celebrated on April 15th. This day is dedicated to a quiet pastime with your family. An important part of the second day is participation in charity events aimed at helping the poor. Each family should make a contribution, as helping the poor is considered a mandatory rite of passage in the Cambodian New Year.
Memorial services for deceased relatives are ordered in monasteries, after which it is customary to go home and spend several hours in complete silence, remembering loved ones who have passed away. Also during Virak Ouanamata, people give each other gifts with wishes of happiness in the coming year. Presents are placed on the table or handed over personally.
The third day of the holiday
April 16 is the main day of the holiday called Virak Lüurng Sek, which accounts for most of the celebrations. The key ritual is to bathe the Buddha statues in fragrant water, to which jasmine flowers and fresh rose petals are added. This rite coincides with the start of the rainy season in Cambodia. Washing the earthly incarnation of Buddha, the locals firmly believe that it will rain only if the ritual is carried out correctly. The younger generation during Virak Lüurng Seka washes the feet of old people, mentally wishing them health and longevity in the new year.
In houses, bowls filled with fruits and flowers are placed on tables, which serve as a sacrifice to the Devi deity. This religious character is a symbol of the upcoming holiday.
The culmination of the celebration falls on the period from 8 to 22 pm, when people go out and start pouring water over each other, as well as smearing each other with clay. This is done in order to be cleansed from any sins committed in the past year.
European holiday
The European New Year is not a significant event in Cambodia and is celebrated quite modestly. If you are on vacation in this country on December 31, then it is better to go to the famous resorts, where you are guaranteed to organize a holiday. Most often, the festive program includes excursions, dinner at a restaurant, an entertainment show and visits to bars, discos or clubs.
Some hotels put on impromptu fireworks at New Year's Eve in Russia. For an additional fee, you can ask to cook traditional Russian cuisine in the restaurant in order to create a festive atmosphere.
A good option to celebrate the New Year in Cambodia is a sea cruise. Such trips are arranged by many travel companies aimed at Russian tourists. On a comfortable liner you can not only have a great rest, but also see the picturesque nature and take part in the show program.
As a result, we note that the New Year in Cambodia is imbued with ancient traditions and rituals rooted in the distant past. Celebrating a holiday in this amazing country will give you an unforgettable experience and a lot of positive emotions.
