Join
A/PGF in April as we ring in the
Thai New Year at a "special"
Membership Social. This event will
be different from our typical
meeting--A/PGF
will be providing the food.
We
hope you will join us for a
delicious Thai meal. This is a
"membership benefit"
-- All members eat for FREE.
Non-members are invited for the
meal for $10 or become a member of
A/PGF that day, at regular
membership dues, and your meal is
on us! An
RSVP is required!!
April
13 marks the Thai New Year, known as
Songkran, one of the most important
and celebrated holidays in the
country. The holiday is officially
celebrated from April 13 - 15, with
festivities often lasting an entire
week.
The
origins of Thai New Year combine
Buddhist belief, ancient astrology,
and the solar calendar. Songkran,
which means the shift of the sun
from one side of the zodiac to the
other, is celebrated when the sun
moves from Pisces to Aries,
beginning a new astrological year.
Songkran
consists of four days. On the first
day (Wan Sungkharn Long), houses are
cleaned and swept. Wan Nao, the
second day, involves the preparation
of food to be offered to monks the
next day. The third day is New
Year's Day (Wan Payawan), celebrated
by visiting the temple, presenting
food and clothing to the monks,
bathing the Buddha image with
jasmine-scented water, and taking
part in one of the many rituals
believed to bring good luck. On the
last day, Wan Parg-bpee, homage is
paid to ancestors and elders. Water
is gently poured over the hands or
shoulders of an elder while they
recite blessings and good wishes for
the new year. Songkran is commonly
known as the "water festival" as
public water fights are enjoyed
throughout the country during this
period. Water, a symbol of renewal,
is believed to cleanse and wash away
the sorrows from the previous year.
People are encouraged to throw water
on each other and it often becomes a
nationwide free-for-all.
Then there is the
ritual of “
Tying of
Strings ” that
involves tying of strings around the
wrists of others to express good
wishes and blessings for the New
Year.
