{"id":2804,"date":"2016-04-12T14:00:36","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T14:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/thai\/?p=2804"},"modified":"2016-04-07T04:29:01","modified_gmt":"2016-04-07T04:29:01","slug":"thai-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/thai\/thai-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Thai New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Between April 13-15, Thais celebrate their New Year in the country’s biggest and most important festival, Songkran<\/strong> (\u0e2a\u0e07\u0e01\u0e23\u0e32\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\u00a0s\u01d2ng-graan<\/em>). The name comes from the Sanskrit word\u00a0sa\u1e43kr\u0101nti<\/span><\/i>, which literally means “astrological passing.” This is because the sun enters the constellation of Aries at this time, the first sign of the zodiac. Over the 3-day celebration, Thais all over the country will head back to their hometowns, spend time with family, make temple visits, take part in parades, and of course, get absolutely soaking wet during epic water fights. For a more detailed explanation of this traditional Thai festival, check out our introduction to Songkran<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

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A Songkran parade on Ko Pha-Ngan.<\/p><\/div>\n

To help you prepare for the holiday, here’s some useful Thai vocabulary for the Thai New Year:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Songkran Festival
\n\u0e40\u0e17\u0e28\u0e01\u0e32\u0e25\u0e2a\u0e07\u0e01\u0e23\u0e32\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c
\nth\u00eaet s\u00e0 gaan s\u01d2ng graan<\/p>\n

Thai New Year
\n\u0e1b\u0e35\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e48\u0e44\u0e17\u0e22
\nphii m\u00e0i thai<\/p>\n

go to the temple
\n\u0e40\u0e02\u0e49\u0e32\u0e27\u0e31\u0e14
\nkh\u00e2o w\u00e1t<\/p>\n

bathe the Buddha
\n\u0e2a\u0e23\u0e07\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30
\ns\u00f3ng n\u00e1am phr\u00e1<\/p>\n

make merit
\n\u0e17\u0e33\u0e1a\u0e38\u0e0d
\ntham bun<\/p>\n

blessing
\n\u0e04\u0e33\u0e2d\u0e27\u0e22\u0e1e\u0e23
\nkham uuai phaawn<\/p>\n

water sprinkling blessing
\n\u0e23\u0e14\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e14\u0e33\u0e2b\u0e31\u0e27
\nr\u00f3t n\u00e1am dam h\u00faua<\/p>\n

parade
\n\u0e02\u0e1a\u0e27\u0e19\u0e41\u0e2b\u0e48
\nkh\u00e0 buuan h\u00e0ae<\/p>\n

splashing\/throwing water
\n\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e14\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33
\ns\u00e0at n\u00e1am<\/p>\n

water gun
\n\u0e1b\u0e37\u0e19\u0e09\u0e35\u0e14\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33
\nbpuuen ch\u00ecit n\u00e1am<\/p>\n

Happy New Year
\n\u0e2a\u0e38\u0e02\u0e2a\u0e31\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e27\u0e31\u0e19\u0e1b\u0e35\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e48
\nsu\u0300k sa\u030cn wan bpii ma\u0300i<\/p>\n

Wish you to be happy
\n\u0e02\u0e2d\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e21\u0e35\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e2a\u0e38\u0e02
\nk\u037b\u030c\u037b-ha\u0302i mii-kwaam-su\u0300k<\/p>\n

Wish you to be healthy
\n\u0e02\u0e2d\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e49\u0e2a\u0e38\u0e02\u0e20\u0e32\u0e1e\u0e41\u0e02\u0e47\u0e07\u0e41\u0e23\u0e07
\nk\u037b\u030c\u037b ha\u0302i su\u0300k ka\u0300 pa\u0302ap k\u0511\u030cng r\u0511\u0511ng<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While Bangkok and Chiang Mai may be the most popular places to celebrate the holiday, there are good times to be had no matter where you are in Thailand. We found ourselves on Ko Pha-Ngan during Songkran two years ago and had an absolute blast. Check out some highlights in this short video:<\/p>\n