Cambodian New Year is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Cambodia. It is also known as Khmer New Year and is celebrated in mid-April, which is the time when the harvesting season ends. This festival marks the beginning of a new year and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal by the Cambodian people. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about Cambodian New Year, including its history, traditions, and customs.
Origins and History of Cambodian New Year
The Cambodian New Year, or Khmer New Year, traces its origins back to an ancient Cambodian legend. According to the legend, an old khmer king by the name of Preah Ket Mealea had a son who was very ill. His son’s illness could only be cured with the blood from a dragon. After much difficulty, the king finally found a nine-headed dragon to give its blood to cure the prince.
In gratitude, the king organized a festival that coincided with the end of the harvest season. This festival eventually became an annual tradition and celebration that marked the Cambodian New Year. Traditionally, the New Year was a time for Cambodians to honor family elders and ancestors. Cambodians would gather together to make offerings at temples and partake in cleansing rituals.
Today, Khmer New Year is celebrated from April 13 to April 15 and is one of the most popular Cambodian festivals. Cambodians will travel from all over Cambodia to celebrate with their loved ones. During this time, Cambodians participate in symbolic acts of renewal, cleansing and purification:
- People clean their homes and decorate it thoroughly to sweep away the old and welcome the new.
- People bathe Buddha statues and elders with scented water as a way to wash away sins and bad luck.
- Young people pour scented water on the hands of elders and parents to show gratitude and seek their blessings.
- People release birds and fish as acts of merit and kindness.
- Colorful decorations are hung and parades are held. Music, dancing and feasting commence for days.
The Cambodian New Year is a time for Cambodians to strengthen family and community ties, reconnect with cultural traditions, and usher in a fresh start. Although some traditions have changed over time, the meaning behind the Cambodian New Year remains the same. Khmer New Year will always be a celebration of renewal, gratitude and new beginnings.
When Is Cambodian New Year Celebrated?
Cambodian New Year, also known as Khmer New Year, is celebrated in mid-April, typically falling between the 13th to 15th. The three-day festival marks the end of the harvest season to start of the rainy season.
Officially called Chol Chnam Thmey, which translates to “Enter New Year”, the dates of Cambodian New Year are based on the lunar calendar. The main celebrations always take place around the second week of April.
Families come together during Cambodian New Year to pray at temples, clean and decorate their homes, and prepare special meals. The holiday is a time for feasting, dancing, games, and renewal.
The first day of Cambodian New Year is called “Maha Sangkran”, which celebrates the end of the old year. Households perform a thorough spring cleaning and decorate entranceways with flowers, candles and colored streamers. Elders are honored and younger family members seek their blessings.
The second day is called “Virak Wanabat” or “Day of Offerings”. People make offerings at temples and pagodas, pray for good fortune, and splash water on each other as a blessing. The water symbolizes renewal, cleansing and forgiveness.
The third and final day is called “Vearak Loeng Sak” or “Day of Joy”. There are parades, games, dancing, and more splashing of water. Locals release captive fish and birds as acts of merit and compassion.
Cambodian New Year is a time for forgiveness, feasting, fortune, family, and fun. The water festival rejuvenates the country and its people with optimism and joy after the long, dry season. Celebrating the start of a new year and new beginnings, Cambodians enter the rainy season with fresh hopes for prosperity.
Cambodian New Year celebrations in Siem Reap (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP)
Traditions and Customs of Cambodian New Year
Cambodian New Year, or Chaul Chnam Thmey, is a colorful celebration filled with traditions meant to bring good fortune in the year ahead.
Spring Cleaning
In the weeks leading up to the festival, Cambodians undertake a thorough spring cleaning of their homes, sweeping out any bad luck from the previous year. They also settle any outstanding debts to start the New Year with a clean slate.
Building Sand Pagodas
Families construct temporary shrines called sand pagodas, building cone-shaped piles of sand adorned with candles, incense and flowers as offerings to the temples. The pagodas represent renewal and new beginnings.
Ancestral Offerings
Cambodians make offerings to their ancestors to express gratitude and seek blessings. They visit temples and place food, candles and joss sticks at ancestral shrines. Prayers are said in hopes of a prosperous year.
Blessing Ceremonies
Buddhist monks at local temples perform blessing ceremonies, chanting prayers to cleanse people of sins and bad luck. Cambodians visit temples to have water poured over their hands for good fortune. Some get splashed with scented water by monks in a lighthearted blessing.
Family Time
Cambodian New Year is a time for families to come together. People travel from all over to be with loved ones, enjoying meals together and bonding over games like tug-of-war. Elders give younger members money in red envelopes as a gesture of goodwill.
Dancing and Music
Traditional Khmer music, dancing and games are central to the festivities. Villagers gather to play games, enjoy live music and watch traditional Apsara dancing, a cultural dance depicting stories from Khmer mythology.
By following these time-honored traditions, Cambodians usher in the New Year surrounded by loved ones, cleansed of past misfortunes and filled with hope, prosperity and new beginnings. Chaul Chnam Thmey Sameach! (Happy New Year in Khmer.)
Food and Cuisine for Cambodian New Year
The food and cuisine are an important part of celebrating Cambodian New Year. Several traditional dishes are commonly served during the three-day festival.
Rice Porridge
Rice porridge, known as borbor, is considered an essential part of the Khmer New Year menu. This sweet rice porridge is usually made with coconut milk and topped with fried garlic, scallions, diced fruit like mango or banana, and coconut cream. Borbor is eaten for breakfast during the new year.
Sticky Rice
No Cambodian meal is complete without sticky rice, known as khao nieow. The glutinous rice is usually wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Sticky rice is the perfect accompaniment for curries, stews and grilled meats.
Fresh Spring Rolls
Fresh spring rolls, or nem chua yean, are another popular dish served during Cambodian New Year. Ground pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and vegetables are wrapped in rice paper wrappers. A sweet mixed with sour sauce made of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili peppers is served with the fresh spring rolls.
Curry Dishes
A variety of curry dishes, like red curry chicken, beef curry, and fish curry, are common fare during the new year celebrations. Coconut milk, chili peppers, and herbs are used to flavor the curries. Stir fried vegetables, grilled fish or chicken also accompany the curries.
• Samlor kako is a hearty pumpkin curry, usually made with chicken, pork or fish and flavored with coconut milk.
• Samlor machu kroeung is a popular seafood curry, made with shrimp, squid, fish and aromatic herbs like lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves.
• Samlor trang, or red curry, is a spicy curry made with beef, chicken or duck and red chilies.
With delicious food, good company and lively festivities, Cambodian New Year is all about celebrating with friends and family. Trying all the traditional Khmer dishes is an important part of experiencing the vibrant culture during this joyous festival.
Celebrating Cambodian New Year Outside of Cambodia
Celebrating Cambodian New Year, or Chol Chnam Thmey, outside of Cambodia may require some improvisation, but it can still be a fun cultural experience.
Decorations
Decorate your home with items in the traditional Cambodian New Year colors of red, blue, yellow, and green. Use paper lanterns, streamers, or hang up pictures of Angkor Wat. Fresh flowers, especially jasmine and frangipani, will fill your home with a lovely fragrance reminiscent of Cambodia.
Food
A Cambodian New Year feast should include mango sticky rice, fish amok (fish curry steamed in banana leaves), fresh spring rolls, and tropical fruit like mangosteen, rambutan, and dragon fruit. Shop at an Asian market for authentic ingredients or find recipes to make your own.
Blessing Ceremony
On the first day of Cambodian New Year, a blessing ceremony is held at Buddhist temples. You can create your own simplified ceremony at home. Arrange a tray with flowers, candles, incense and fruit as an offering. Light the candles and incense, say a prayer for happiness and prosperity in the new year.
Games
Traditional Cambodian games are played during the festival to bring people together. You can play a modified version of games like tug-of-war or pick up sticks with friends and family. Or teach children simple Cambodian toys like the ankle bone, spinning top or kite.
Cambodian New Year is ultimately about new beginnings, good fortune and community. Recreate the spirit of the festival in your own way by learning about Cambodian culture, preparing traditional food, and spending time with loved ones. Sok sabay! (Best wishes!)
Conclusion
So as you can see, Cambodian New Year is a vibrant, joyful celebration that brings families and communities together to mark the turning of the seasons. From the elaborate preparations to the rituals, dances, games, and shared meals, it offers something for everyone. We hope this glimpse into the traditions of the holiday left you wanting to learn more about the culture and people of Cambodia. Whether you have the chance to celebrate in person someday or just want to further explore from afar, may the spirit of renewal carry you into your own new year full of promise and hope.
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