Songkran Festival Chiangmai

SONGKRAN

The "SONGKRAN" festival happens in the hot season in half of April. This festival happens in all Buddhist "THEREVADA" countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma. Songkran is the ancient New Year's Day. Now the official New Year's Day happens the 1st January. But the most popular feast is still "SONGKRAN". For Songkran festival, Thai people clean everything, i.e the house, the previous year bad actions, the Buddha statues, one's own spirit. But nowadays Songkran festival is better known for its splashing water madness.

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Traditionally the ceremony was to pour water into the palms hands in order that bad actions, bad thoughts flow away with the water. It was a way to purify. Children show their respect to elders by performing this water ceremony. Also scented water is poured over the shoulder and slowly down the back of the person. While pouring the water in this manner, people say good wishes and words of blessing for the coming New Year

Credit www.chiangmai.jp

Songkran Festival

Songkran is one of the most striking festivals in Thailand, for it is widely observed not only in Thailand but also in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Lao PDR.

Songkran is a Sanskrit word in Thai form which means the entry of sun into any sign of the Zodiac. In another sense, Songkran is also a traditional Thai New Year. Its full name is Maha Songkran or Major Songkran but the people call it simply the Songkran, which begins on the 13th April and ends on the 15th April.

On the eve of Songkran Day, the 12th April, the people clean their house and burn all the refuse. People believe that anything bad belonging to the old year will be unlucky to the owner if left and carried on to the New Year.

Early on the first day of Songkran, the 13th April, the young people and old in their new clothing go to the Wat or monastery belonging to their village or district to offer the food to the monk. A long table is erected in the compound of the Wat where monk’s alms blow stand in a row. People put the boiled rice into it and put food, fruit, and sweets into the cover of the alms blow.

In the afternoon of the same day there is bathing ceremony of the Buddha images. After this, there is “the water throwing feast “. Younger people will also go to pay their respect to and ask blessing from their elders and respect person. They will pour scented water into the palms of the old people and present them with a towel and the other bathing requisites. In the old days it was an actual bathing where the young people help the old people to take a bath and to change their old clothing and put on a new one which the young people present them as an act of respect to the age on the occasion of the New Year.

Another duty to be done during the Songkran Festival is a religious service called Bangsukun performed in sacred memory of the dead. When a person died and was cremated, the ashes and charred bones of common people were buried. On Songkran Day a religious service in sacred memory to the dead is officiated by a monk or monks at the place where the ashes and the bone have been deposited.

During the three days of Songkran, the people, mostly the young, amuse themselves by throwing water at one another.

The throwing of water during Songkran is not a mere amusement, but has some connection with the belief of having abundant rain for the coming season of cultivation. According to the popular belief, it rains because the Nagas or mythical serpents sport themselves by spouting water from the ocean. The more they spout the more abundantly the rain will come. The young people continue to sing dance and play games after the last day of Songkran comes to an end, if the rain has not yet begun.

Credit www.thaiembassy.jp

Official Holidays Royal Thai Embassy, Tokyo

Official Holidays for 2008 (B.E. 2551)

Royal Thai Embassy, Tokyo

Day	Date	Occasion	Rem.
Tuesday	January 1	New Year's Day	T/J
Wednesday	January 2	New Year Holiday	J
Monday	January 14	Coming of Age Day	J
Monday	February 11	National Foundation Day	J
Thursday	March 20	Vernal Equinox Day	J
Monday	April 14	Songkran Day	T
Tuesday	April 29	Emperor Showa Memorial Day	J
Monday	May 5	Children Day	J
Tuesday	May 6	Substitute Greenery Day	J
Monday	July 21	Marine Day	J
Tuesday	August 12	H.M. the Queen's Birthday	T
Thursday	August 14	Respect for the Bon Period	J
Monday	September 15	Respect for the Aged Day	J
Tuesday	September 23	Vernal Equinox Day	J
Monday	October 13	Health-Sports Day	J
Monday	November 3	Culture Day	J
Monday	November 24	Substitute Labor Thanksgiving Day	J
Friday	December 5	H.M. the King's Birthday	T
Tuesday	December 23	H.M. the Emperor's Birthday	J
Wednesday	December 31	New Year's Eve	T/J

Office Hours : Monday - Friday
09.00 - 12.00 & 13.30 - 17.30 hrs.
Remarks :	T = Thai National Holiday
	J = Japanese National Holiday

Credit www.thaiembassy.jp

Thailand's Holidays (ENG)

Thailand's Holidays

Nationwide(*) Traditional Celebration day(**) Jan 1 New Year Day * 2nd Saturday Children Day * Mid of Jan Bo Sang Umbrella Fair & San Kamphaeng Handicrafts Festival:this fair, held on the main street, celebrates their traditional skills and features contests, exhibitions, stalls selling umbrellas and other handicrafts, and a Miss Bo Sang pageant. Come and enjoy this festival and please make advance Reservations. Chiang Mai ** End of Jan Kite Festival Buriram ** End of Jan ~ Feb Chinese New Year and Dragon & Lion Parade:there is a brightly coloured procession with marching bands, various lion and dragon dances from seven nations, and figures of venerated deities. A brilliant light and sound presentation brings the event to and end. Nakornsawan ** Feb 5 ~ 7 Chiang Mai Flower Festival: the north is noted for its rich variety of flowering plants, particularly temperate-climate specimens which bloom during this cool month. Spectacular floral floats are the highlight of this grand Chiang Mai event. Buak Hat Park, Chiang Mai ** 14 Valentine Day ** Full moon day Makha Bhucha: This important Buddhist Holy day marks the auspicious occasion when 1,250 of Lord Buddha's adherents spontaneously congregated to hear him give a sermon. Merit-making ceremonies are held during the day at temples throughout the country, while at night, triple candlelit circumambulations are stage around major temples. * Apr 6 Chakkree Day * 13 ~ 15 Songkran Festival (Water Festival): Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year and a special occasion for merry-making throughout Thailand. Chiang Mai * 3rd week Pattaya Festival: food and floral floats, beauty contests, stalls selling local delicacies, and a spectacular display of fireworks on the beach are but a few of the highlights that attract merrymakers. Pattaya, Chon buri ** May 1 Mayday * 1st week Royal Ploughing Ceremony: this ancient Brahman ritual celebrates the official commencement of the rice-growing season and is staged at Sanam Luang, the large field fronting the Grand Palace. Colourful costumes are worn by the participants who perform various ceremonies believed to help predict the abundance of the next rice crop. Sanam Luang, Bangkok * 2nd week Yasothorn Boon Bangfai Rocket Festival: north eastern villagers fashion rockets of all kinds, some of them several metres long, launching them is believed to ensure plentiful rains during the coming rice planting season. High-spirited revelry accompanies the event, with beauty parades, folk dancing, and stage shows. Yasothorn ** 2nd week~ Fruit Fair: these annual fairs are held in the eastern provinces of Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat to celebrate the variety of local fruits, such as rambutan, durian, mangosteen and zalacca at their peak of succulent ripeness. Rayong, Chanthaburi ** Full moon day Visakha Bhucha: This is the holiest of all Buddhist religious days, marking the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Lord Buddha. * July Beginning of July Phi Ta Khon Festival: this festival features contests of masked dances and processions. All tourisis are welcome to participate. Amphoe Dan Sai, Loei ** Full moon day Asalha Bhucha : The full-moon day of the eightth lunar month marks the preaching of Lord Buddha 's first sermon to this first five disciples after attaining Enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. In the evening, candlelit processions take place in Buddhist temples around the country. * Next day of Asalha Bhucha Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent): this day marks commencement of the Buddhist Lent or Phansa during which monks must reside inside their temples to study and meditate. This is also the most auspicious time for Buddhist ordinations since it marks a period of renewed spiritual vigour. * Aug 12 HM The Queen's Birthday Celebration: around Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the area around the Grand Palace and other well-known locations are bedecked with coloured lights and amgnificent adornments * Sep 1st week Boat Races: This anual event takes place on the Nan River, Phichit and Pitsanulok, one of the most naturally panoramic part of Thailand. The event features boats competing against each other with great fervour and excitement of the cheers of spectators. Nan river, Pichit and Phitsanulok ** Oct ~2nd week Buffalo Races: buffalo races and contests pitting buffalo against man. Elegant beauty pageants and various other fun activities are included, which attract visitors from all over. City Hall, Chon Buri ** mid of Oct Vegetarian Festival: this annual event is held during 9th Chinese calender month in which the locals of Chinese ancestry undertake a ten day vegetarian diet. Various rituals are performed at Chinese temples and there are processions of ascetic devotees performing remarkable feats such as fire-walking and climbing ladders with knife-edge rungs. Phuket ** 23 Piyamaharaj Day King Chulalongkorn(Rama V) Memorial day * End of Oct Ork Phansa Day ** Nov Full moon day Loy Krathong Festival: Krathong(made from banana leaves) floating, a fireworks display, cultural performances and an amazing light and sound show. Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Chiang mai ** 3rd weekend Surin Elephant Round-Up Show: a tug of-war between elephants and men, demonstrations of log-pulling skills, and various other extraordinary feast set in a carnival atmosphere. Surin ** End of Nov ~ 1st week of Dec River Kwai Bridge week Fair 2001: the world famous River Kwae Bridge, which was built by Allied prisoners-of-war during World II, becomes the focal point of celebrations. Kanchanaburi ** Dec 5 H.M. The King's Birthday Celebrations:all over the country, buildings and homes are elaborately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly iluminated. * 10 Thai Constitutional Day: year 1932(King Rama VII), the day that constitution was promulgated in Thailand. * 25 Christmas ** 31 End of the year *

Credit www.thaiembassy.jp

Songkran Festival 3 (JPN)

2006年ソンクラーン祭り
2006年04月15日

2006 年 4 月 15 日 11 時 30 分～ 13 時 30 分、在京タイ王国大使館はタイ正月、ソンクラーン祭りに伴いタイの伝統文化を紹介する祝賀祭を大使館にて行いました。

今回、タイ王国大使館は、大使館関係者及び各業界・団体から VIP を招き、東京周辺の学校から参加した学生を含めると総勢約 600 名が集まりました。

祝賀祭ではソンクラーンを紹介する展示、砂の城をつくる儀式、仏像を洗う儀式、年配の方々の手に聖水を掛ける儀式が行われました。この他にも、日本人によるムエタイショーやルークチュップ（タイのお菓子）調理の実演、ルークチュップ、花輪、タイフルーツのカービングの体験コーナーを設けるなど、様々なタイ文化を紹介するデモンストレーションが披露されました。

--------------------------------------------------------------

ソンクラーン祭りでの大使スピーチ(2006.4.15)



尾木信蔵様、鳥取滋治郎様、服部礼次郎様、末松謙一様、ビビエン・ケンリック様、ご来場の皆様、
こんにちは

本日はタイ大使館のタイ正月を祝うソンクラーン祭りへようこそ。

ソンクラーンは楽しく、かつ徳を積むためのお祭りで、タイ人にとっては親戚や目上の人達に感謝し、
また家族や親戚が集う機会です。

本日は大使館が、皆様をタイのお正月にお招きしました。この場をお借りして日頃日本の皆様から大
使館、タイ人、タイ国に頂いている暖かいご支援、お気持ちに感謝致します。

タイ人は、経済危機の折、また 2004 年末の津波被災の時等に受けた日本の方々からの暖かい心を忘
れたことはありません。

タイは現在、各方面において継続的に進歩、発展しています。現時点で政治的には動きがありますが、
より成熟した民主主義への過程であり、まもなく落ち着くと思われます。

今年はタイ国王陛下御在位 60 周年という大変喜ばしい年です。日本の天皇、皇后両陛下が記念式典
に御臨席頂けるとのこと、タイ国民もとても喜んでおります。

新年のお慶びを申し上げるとともに皆様のご健康、ご発展を祈念します。タイと日本、タイ人と日本
人の良好な関係が末永く続くことを願ってやみません。


Credit www.thaiembassy.jp

Songkran Festival 2 (JPN)

2007年ソンクラーン祭り

2007年04月16日

2007 年 4 月 14 日 11 時 30 分～ 13 時 30 分、在京タイ王国大使館はタイ正月、ソンクラーン祭りに伴いタイの伝統文化を紹介する祝賀祭を大使館にて行いました。 今回、タイ王国大使館は、大使館関係者及び各業界・団体から VIP を招き、東京周辺の学校から参加した学生を含めると総勢約 800 名が集まりました。 祝賀祭ではソンクラーンを紹介する展示、仏像を洗う儀式、年配の方々の手に聖水を掛ける儀式が行われました。この他にも、日本人によるムエタイショーや花 輪、フルーツのカービングのデモンストレーションコーナーを設けるなど、様々なタイ文化を紹介するデモンストレーションが披露されました。 写真

Credit www.thaiembassy.jp

Songkran Festival (JPN)

ソンクラーンはタイ王国において最も注目を集めるお祭りの１つであり、タイ王国だけでなくミャンマー、カンボジア、ラオスにおいても祝われています。

　 　‘ソンクラーン’はサンスクリット語を起源に持つタイ語であり、太陽が次の黄道帯に入ることを意味します。また‘ソンクラーン’は伝統的なタイのお正月 をも意味します。正式な名前は‘マハ・ソンクラーン’（大ソンクラーン）といいますが、普通は簡単に‘ソンクラーン’とだけ呼ばれていて、４月１３日に始 まり１５日に終わります。

　 ソンクラーンの儀式や行事、習慣などはそれぞれの地域や時代によって少しずつ違います。下記は一般的なソンクラーンの過ごし方です。

　 ‘ソンクラーン’の第１日目、４月１３日の朝早く、若い人も年をとった人も皆新しい服を着て、自分たちの村や地域にあるお寺や僧院に行って、僧侶に食べ物 を奉げます。寺院の敷地には長い机が置かれ、その上には喜捨のためのお鉢が並べられます。そのお鉢に人々はご飯、果物、お菓子など様々な食べ物を入れま す。

　 第１日目の午後には、仏像を洗う儀式があります。この儀式の後には、水掛け祭りが行われます。また若い人たちは、目上の人や尊敬すべき立場の人のもとを訪 れ、尊敬の念を表し彼らから祝福を受けます。年下の人は年上の人の手のひらによい香りのする水を注ぎ、地方によってはタオルやその他の入浴に必要なものを 贈ります。以前はこの時に実際に入浴が行われ、年下の者が年上の者の入浴を手伝い、古い洋服から贈り物である新しい洋服に着せ替えていました。この一連の 行為は新年に目上の者に対して敬意を表すもの、とみなされていました。

　 もう１つソンクラーン祭りの間にしなければならない事は、‘バンサクン’と呼ばれる、亡くなった人を偲ぶ宗教的な儀式があります。人が亡くなって火葬され た後、残された灰と骨は埋められます。そして‘ソンクラーン’の日に、灰と骨が埋められた場所で、僧侶によって亡くなった人を偲ぶ儀式が行われます。

　 ‘ソンクラーン’の３日間の間、人々、特に若い人々は、お互いに水を掛け合って楽しみます。

　 ‘ソンクラーン’の間に水を掛け合うのはただ楽しみのためだけでなく、次の耕作期に十分な雨が降るように、という願いも込められています。言い伝えによれ ば、‘ナガ’という神話上の蛇が海で水を吹き出しながら遊ぶことによって雨が降る、と言われています。蛇が水を吹き出せば吹き出すほど、より多くの雨が降 るのです。若い人達は‘ソンクラーン’の最後の日が過ぎても、もし雨が降り始めない場合には、歌い、踊りそして水掛けを続けます。

Credit www.thaiembassy.jp