Friends & Cultures Coming Together
Celebrating 30 Years!
Visit the A&FH 30th Anniversary
Guestbook and Gallery
CAMBODIAN/THAI NEW YEAR OBSERVANCE
This year we are going to observe and celebrate both the Cambodian and the Thai New Year, since they occur at the same time. We have included with this e-mail some facts about each holiday for you to read and enjoy.
We will be observing the holidays with dinner at Thai Spice Buffet, 2520 South Voss @ Westheimer. Please join us and enjoy Thai food and the companionship of your friends at Asians and Friends - Houston.
Look for us in the private dining room to the left of the main entrance. See you there.
WHAT: Cambodian/Thai New Year Observance
WHEN: Saturday, April 21, 2018@ 7PM.
WHERE: Thai Spice Buffet, 2520 South Voss @Westheimer.
In Cambodia, Khmer New Year is the greatest traditional festival, and also the greatest national holiday. It is three days of festival and sometimes can be four days. Khmer New Year begins on April 13th or can begin on April 14th, depending on the "MohaSangkran," which is the ancient horoscope. In fact, Khmer New Year originally began on the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar, which can be in November or the beginning of December. In the Angkor Era, the 13th Century, the Khmer King, either Suriyavaraman II or Jayavaraman VII, changed the New Year to the fifth month of the lunar calendar, in April by the solar calendar. 95% of Khmer population are farmers, and the period from November through March is the busiest season for Khmer farmers to reap or harvest the crops from the rice fields. Khmer people can find free time in April because there is no rain, and it is very hot, so Khmer farmers have the time to take vacation after they have worked very hard to gather the rice crops from their fields to get their income. Therefore, April is the right time for Khmer in Cambodia to celebrate New Year.
Thailand has a fascinating and multifaceted culture in accordance with its lifestyles and diverse geographic and environmental orientations. Thais are fortunate to have customs and traditions to celebrate every month. In April, the songkran tradition, known as the Thai Traditional New Year, is celebrated.
Songkran is a celebration that embraces goodwill, love, compassion, and thankfulness, using water as the means of expression. Songkran festival has been celebrated in Bangkok and several regions in Thailand as well as in Southern China, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
The word songkran is derived from Sanskrit and means to move or step forward. The first day of Songkran takes place when the sun moves from Pisces into Aries, which marks the New Year’s Day according to the Brahmin solar calendar.
The festival of Songkran is from 13 to 15 April every year. The first day is known as Maha Songkran or the grand Songkran. Thai government has declared the Songkran Festival an extended public holiday to enable people to return to their hometown and reunite with others in their community. In addition the government also designated 13 April the Day of the Senior or Elderly. The occasion marks the appreciation for the senior population for their years of contribution to the family and country, and 14 April is Family Day to celebrate family love and togetherness.
PLEASE SAVE THE FOLLOWING DATES:
Saturday, April 07, 2018 - 1st Saturday Observance @ the Guava Lamp starting at 7PM
Saturday, May 05, 2018 - 1st Saturday Observance - Guava Lamp.
Saturday, May 19, 2018 - Beginning of Summer Picnic - Further details to follow.