I know this is way too late to post but still I’d like to share, its up to you to read on. Hehehe! Last April 14, 15 and 16, Cambodia celebrates its New Year! It was ent’s holiday at work but he decided to just go to work so we can get the holiday in May, grrr…well, it was so quiet here in Phnom Penh, most shops and restaurants are closed because most of the staffs and owners are either spending their new year in their hometown or just out-of-the country mostly for foreigners living here! We had no celebration nor anything done during those days, I just remembered that in those days, it is just me and K, no helpers around, it was soooo tiring! Darah and Kon are both Cambodians so they are on holiday, while Jhen’s still sick, supposedly to be replaced by her sister but for unknown reasons, she also didn’t come…but anyway, its ok, we enjoyed those days spending at home! In those days, I enjoyed cooking lunch again and sometimes dinner. First night was drinks in Flavours followed by a dinner at Mt. Manaslu Restaurant, chicken tandoori and samosa. Second day was Isabelle’s 11th month birthday, I just cooked pasta and made fruit salad, K got spring rolls and fruit cake, 3 of us had fun! Last day was just home and we had great time watching the fire works from our balcony then it rains after, is it goodluck?!
Okay, let me give you an overview of what is the celebration all about, I got this information from Wikipedia and I am sharing it with you.
Cambodian New Year or Chaul Chnam Thmey in the Khmer language, literally “Enter the New Year”, is the name of the Cambodian holiday that celebrates the New Near. But if you are to be literal Chnam means year and Thmey means new so you are saying enter year new. (if said in English.) The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year’s day, which usually falls on April 13th or 14th. This time of the year is at the end of the harvesting season. The farmers enjoy the fruits of their harvest and relax before the rainy season begins. Khmer living abroad may celebrate on the weekend rather than the actual New Year’s day. Cambodians also use Buddhist Era to count the year based on the Buddhist calendar. For 2010, it is 2554 BE (Buddhist Era).
It is a 3 day celebration, first is the Maha Songkran, derived from Sanskrit Maha Sanranti, is the name of the first day of the new year celebration. It is the ending of the year and the beginning of a new one. People dress up and light candles and burn incense sticks at shrines. The members of each family pay homage to offer thanks for the Buddha’s teachings by bowing, kneeling and prostrating themselves three times before his image. For good luck people wash their face with holy water in the morning, their chests at noon, and their feet in the evening before they go to bed. Second is the Virak Wanaba, it is the name of the second day of the new year celebration. People contribute charity to the less fortunate, help the poor, servants, homeless people, and low-income families. Families attend a dedication ceremony to their ancestors at the monastery. While the third day is the Tngay Leang Saka, it is the name of the third day of the new year celebration. Buddhist cleanse the Buddha statues and elders with perfumed water. Bathing the Buddha images is the symbol that water will be needed for all kinds of plants and lives. It is also thought to be a kind deed that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity in life. By bathing their grandparents and parents, children can obtain from them best wishes and good advice for the future.
Just like any other countries, there are traditions for the Khmer New Year. Like in temples, people erect a sand hillock on temple grounds. They mound up a big pointed hill of sand or dome in the center which represents sakyamuni satya, the stupa at Tavatimsa, where the Buddha’s hair and diadem are buried. The big stupa is surrounded by four small ones, which represent the stupas of the Buddha’s favorite disciples which are Sariputta, Moggallana, Ananda, and Maha Kassapa. There is another tradition, that is pouring water or plaster on someone.
Khmer New Year is a time to prepare special dishes. One of these is kralan, a cake made from steamed rice mixed with beans or peas, grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is stuffed inside a bamboo stick and slowly roasted.
There also number of games being played during the New Year and I will be sharing it on my next post! 
Oh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, part of Vietnam, and other Buddhist country are also celebrating their new year same as here! So, my late HAPPY NEW YEAR greetings to everyone! Goodluck and hope that luck will not be late this year! *smile*
P.S. Picture is from Keunfast Worldwide…which I got in Google images!
