Khmer New Years 2012

Cambodian New Year is also known as Chaul Chnam Thmey. This year, in 2012, new year was from the 13th -15th of April. Cambodian new year is a very festive event filled with games, music, and food. I was looking forward to experimenting new year with Sipo and his family but due to bad weather we couldn't attend. I asked him about what it was typically like though. He told me that before new years came they would prepare for the new year by cleaning their house and offering food like fruits on the mantle. Cleaning the house is a sign to show a new year with a clean house will keep the house clean throughout the year and the offering is to thank their God for all they have if they are Buddhist. Their new year is a three day event, day 1 is called Maha Songkran where they dress up and light candles for the members of each family to offer thanks for the Buddhist teachings, Day two is Virak Wanabat where they contribute charity for those who are less fortunate, and day three is Tngay Leang Saka where they clean the Budda statue believing it will bring them luck, happiness, and prosperity in life. Since Sipo is Christian, he and his family didn't do all of the ceremonies but they normally would go to the temple to meditate and enjoy the festival for new years. When its new years, they usually go to the temple to meditate for a few hours then afterwards they would go out and enjoy the festival. A tradition that I found really interesting and funny was that they would throw shaving cream at each other. Sipo said mostly kids did this event but there are a few adults who would get in on the fun also. There are many traditional games that he told me they did for new years like the throwing of shaving cream and a klan klok which is a gambling game where you would make a bet on six different animals then the dealer would roll the dices and whatever the animal shows up would win. I hope to attend Cambodian new years next year to see the festival and compare it with mines to see the similarities and differences.