How is the New Year celebrated in Cambodia? Many of the country's residents celebrate the arrival of the New Year as many as three times a year.
The New Year, based on the Chinese calendar, is eagerly celebrated throughout Cambodia not only by people of Chinese descent but also by native Khmers. As in Thailand, Chinese New Year here is not a public holiday, i.e. a period of free time. Nevertheless, it is celebrated very pompously, and many institutions and stores - especially Chinese ones - work for shorter periods or not at all. A Chinese New Year tradition is the dragon dance (Mong Say). It brings good luck, family harmony and success at work for the coming period. Often the dragon is accompanied by a lion. Its task, according to ancient tradition, is to divert the attention of bad fortune and bring good fortune to the people.
Cambodian residents already do a general cleanup of their homes a week before the New Year and decorate them with red ornaments. This very color has the power to ward off evil spirits. It's also a good idea to stock up on sprigs of yellow-flowering plants. If flowers appear on it during the first three days of the new year, it means a good omen and heralds good luck.
In addition to holiday cleaning, a lot of time is spent shopping (new clothes are often bought for the New Year) and preparing large supplies of food.
Chinese New Year is mainly spent with family. Many Cambodians then travel to their hometowns to spend the holiday with their relatives and friends. New Year's Eve is also an occasion to make an offering at a temple.
Cambodia uses the Hindu calendar to calculate its New Year's Day. According to the Gregorian calendar, this holiday falls on either April 13 or 14. Chaul Chnam is the country's largest and most traditional holiday and lasts three days, and sometimes four.
Originally, Chaul Chnam was celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month, which fell either in November or December. In the 13th century, during the Angkor era (the Khmer state that existed from 802 to 1432), King Suriyavarman II or Jayavarman VII, moved the Cambodian New Year to the fifth lunar month, or April of the solar calendar.
What was the reason for this? The vast majority of the Cambodian population (95%), are farmers. The time from November to March is the most important and busiest time of the year for farmers in the rice fields. In this situation, April is the best time to celebrate, as the peasants have already finished harvesting, the crops are under roof, and the dry season gives more free time.
And how not to admire the wisdom of the peoples of the Far East? We are content to use the only New Year's Eve of the year to welcome the New Year, while others do it as many as three times....
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