臺北市新住民專區網站英文版

The seasons in the Indo-China Peninsula region are slightly different from the well-known four seasons, it’s closer to the "three seasons": hot season (March to May), rainy season (June to October) and cool season (November to February). A plenty of rain affects local climate, industries, traditional customs, and festivals such as Loy Krathong in Thailand and Bon Om Touk in Cambodia. Both festivalsare celebrate the end of the rainy season and welcome the arrival of the harvest 

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The celebration of Bon Om Touk are three days, main activities including dragon boat rowing, lantern boat tours, worshiping the moon, and eating flattened rice. In addition to the dragon boat race, the other three activities are all held at night. Like the Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand, people will gather on the Mekong River and Siem Reap River to release water lanterns at night, and they can also enjoy fireworks and concerts. It is obviously more lively at night!

Dragon boat, boarding, and worshiping the moon are easily to understand, but what is flattened rice? Flattened rice (អំបុក) is rice that has been roasted, groundand pounded. Adults will feed children flattened rice, and children will hold their noses while looking at the moon with their mouths open and making wishes and pray for good luck.