GRIFFITH GLEANINGS MAY
Squirting your neighbour with a water pistol and celebrating with loud music may not be everyone’s favourite way to see in the New Year, but this past month involved some milestones for us experiencing culture in our community here in Siem Reap. The Cambodian New Year (Khmer: បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី), or Choul Chnam Thmey in the Khmer language, literally means “Enter New Year”. The Cambodian holiday that celebrates the traditional solar new year coincides with Easter. Some of the traditions of the Cambodian New Year remind us of a Western Christmas. Many homes put up decorations and gifts are given. We shared a number of ceremonies with families in our street that largely involved the family honouring their parents. Birthdays are not usually celebrated in Cambodia, but parents each year can expect their children to come and give them food and gifts and even symbolically ‘shower’ them. We were involved in observing a variety of these ceremonies and family gatherings and had more offers to participate in family celebrations than available time during the three day long weekend. We also were asked to participate in one families ceremonial washing as honoured “adopted” parents that involved us both being washed by all family members. It felt both a humbling experience as well as a deepening of relationship.
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