臺北市新住民專區網站英文版

Most of the Taiwanese think Thailand is always summer, but Thailand actually have three seasons, hot season, cool season, and monsoon season. April is usually the hottest time of the year in Thailand. April has an important national holiday, a holiday that all Thais, including expatriates, are looking forward to returning home to spend time with their families. The holiday is the world renown Thai New Year, or more commonly known as Songkran Festival. Each year Songkran Festival attracts countless international tourists to participate in the event.
According to official Thailand government calendar, Songkran Festival takes place from April 13 to 15. During the festival the government and all of the shops are closed, and people returned home to see their family. When I was still living in Thailand I would go home and visit my family as well. On the morning of April 13, I used to go to temples with my family, and offer the foods we prepared to monks in the temple. On this day, every temple performs water pouring ceremony on Buddha statues so we may wash Buddha statues with clean water. I remember every time when we were on our way home, we would often get splashed by the people congregated on the sides of the road. So when we returned home, we would take a bucketful of water to the street and splash water with friends and relatives. The splashing of water would last for three days, and everyone would wear colorful clothes.
On the following day, our whole family would often go to a restaurant to eat, sometimes we would drive to the beach. The second day is also the day I would pour floral water into my parents’ hands to bless them and wish them a healthy life in the new year. Though the weather was always hot, everyone had a fun time. Thais believe splashing water can wash away bad luck from the previous year. Like Lunar New Year in Taiwan, during Songkran Festival, people in Thailand would clean their houses, put on new clothes, and avoid using foul languages in order to usher in good luck for the new year.
If you have the chance to visit Thailand in April, be sure to experience Songkran Festival yourself. It is fun and brings good luck!

Bathing the Buddha



 Introducing Tai elderlies to floral water hand washing ceremony