Happy Thai New Year

April 13th of every year is Thai new year according to ancient tradition. We have this custom for a thousand year since the beginning of our country. We call our Thai new year " Song- Gran Day"

If I'm telling you in detail of how it began, this might look more like a textbook than a diary. In order to explain the beliefs and customs that is a thousand year old, I will need a another place to tell. For this blog, I'll conclude it as:

Song-Gran Day is on April 13th of every year. It's a grand celebration and one of the most important day for Thai people. We normally perform merit, offer food to monks, and bless each others. Children normally prostrate themselves to elders and give them flower garland, which made from jasmines and other flowers. They also softly spring water, which mixed with Thai special fragrance, from a silver bowl, which has Thai painting on it. While doing so, children pray for Buddha to protect the elders and wish them a long lives, meanwhile, the elders bless children be healthy, smart, wealthy, and successful. On this day, people normally wear Thai traditional clothes or at least a colorful shirt, printed with colorful flowers.

After the ceremony with elders, Thai people with come out splashing water and putting powder on each others' face. We joyfully celebrate like this all 3 days (13-15 April)

The custom of splashing water to each other might come from the fact that Thai New Year takes place in the middle of April, which is the hottest month. (Thailand is a tropical country and this is the hottest time, people are normally dry after a little while)

Song-Gran Festival is not only Thai holidays and the most important tradition of Thailand, it is also one of the most famous festivals to foreigners. This time of every year, there will be many foreigners, who come to Thailand to enjoy the celebration in ChianMai province and Kao-San road in Bangkok.

But Song-Gran this year, Thailand is under State of Emergency. One of the rules is omitting a gathering of more than 5 people and now it's too early to know what is going on at Kao San road, which is supposed to be the fun area.

However, no matter how many days and years passed, or no matter what the situation in my country is, I'm still able to find happiness from my dogs and from realizing that I have a good family and good friends. Any awful political situations can not decrease the happiness in my heart. Therefore, my love and good wishes that I pass to all my friends are not less.

Thank you for friendship and sincerity you have given to me and my 2-legs and 4-legs family. Thank you for making my days that even one of the darkest days get brighter because of your friendship.

I would like to send love and good wishes to everyone in every corner of the world.
Happy Song Gran Day - Happy Thai New Year to you with love

Garland made from jasmines and roses

Garland and a silver bowl, which has Thai painting on it. These are important part of celebrating Song-Gran day.