"Embrace the Vibrancy: Cambodian New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey) Unveiled!"
The Cambodian New Year, Choul Chnam Thmey, is a deeply rooted tradition in the Khmer culture, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the rainy season. The three-day celebration, starting on April 13th or 14th, involves family reunions, respect to elders, purification rituals, charity, remembering ancestors, and various traditional games and dances, symbolizing change, new beginnings, and community strengthening.
Cambodian New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey)
History and Origin
The Cambodian New Year, also known as Choul Chnam Thmey, literally translates to "Enter the New Year". It is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Khmer people, the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia. The celebration is believed to have started during the Angkor era when Khmers, predominantly an agrarian society, sought divine blessings for rain to begin their rice cultivation. The festival marks the end of the harvest season and gives farmers a break before the rainy season begins.
Significance
Choul Chnam Thmey is not just a celebration of the New Year, but it is also a time for Cambodians to strengthen their community bonds. It is a time for family reunions, for paying respect to elders, and for purification rituals such as cleaning homes, and washing statues of Buddha with perfumed water. The festival also symbolizes change and encourages people to forget the sorrows of the past and look forward to a new beginning.
When Celebrated
The Cambodian New Year is celebrated for three days starting on April 13th or 14th, depending on the ancient horoscope “Maha Sangkran”. It is during this period that the sun enters the sign of Aries on the astrological chart.
How Celebrated
The celebration of Choul Chnam Thmey is spread over three days. The first day is Maha Sangkran, the inauguration of the New Year and the welcoming of the new spirits. People dress up in new clothes and visit temples to offer food to the monks. The second day, Vanabot, is a day of charity and remembering ancestors. The third day, Leung Sakk, is the official start of the New Year. People cleanse statues of Buddha with perfumed water, a ritual believed to be a benevolent act that brings longevity, good luck, happiness, and prosperity.
Other Factors
The Cambodian New Year is also marked by various games and dances, most notably the traditional throwing and smashing of pots and the playful throwing of water and talcum powder. Traditional games like Chol Chhoung, Chab Kon Kleng, Leak Kanseng, and Bos Angkunh are played. The New Year also sees the performance of traditional Khmer dances like the Robam Trot and the popular Monkey Dance.