Three days of lively celebrations: Khmer New Year has just begun

Just like it is with us, Cambodians also pay due attention to the celebration of the New Year. This holiday, which, following the example of countries like India or Thailand, is based on the solar calendar, celebrates not only the beginning but also the end – it marks the end of the demanding harvest period, allowing farmers to take a break. However, don’t expect New Year's Eve with fireworks until the very end – before that, many important rituals need to be performed!

Day 1 (Moha Sangkran): Arrival of angels and new loves

The Khmers believe that on the first day of the New Year celebrations, new angels arrive to take care of this world. They decorate their homes for the angels, perform a thorough cleaning, and prepare drinks and fruit so that the angels fall properly in love with this world – and especially with their households . Each content angel stays in the house for the entire year and takes care of the whole family.

On this day, people also go to the temple for blessings, traditional games are played, and some young Cambodians welcome this day as a suitable moment for meeting new people. In the past few decades, "dating" as we know it did not exist in Cambodia, so this holiday is full of shared encounters on the street and is a very convenient moment to take the first step and get to know an exceptional partner.

Day 2 (Wanabot): Giving

As an old Indian proverb says, "Whatever is worth having is also worth sharing" – and the Khmers know this very well. On this day, they offer gifts to their parents, grandparents, and elders. These are material gifts, but also money or clothing for the poor. In the evening, everyone gathers in temples, builds sand mountains, and asks monks for blessings of happiness and peace.

Day 3 (Leung Sakk): Thorough cleaning and refreshment for the New Year

We could call this day our New Year's Eve – it is the day when the year 2021 becomes 2022. Early in the morning, the Khmers head to the temple to perform the sand mountain ritual and receive blessings. Then comes the joyful festival Srang Preah, where everyone showers. But don’t worry, it doesn’t mean mass celebrations in Cambodian bathrooms, but a ritual purification. Water is poured over and used to bathe Buddhist statues, monks, elders, parents, and grandparents so that people apologize and show gratitude. And at the same time, it’s also a bit for the young to have proper fun.

The Khmer New Year is a great traditional holiday full of colors and joy for Cambodians. You can enjoy it too as a visitor if you happen to be in Cambodia at that time. During this period, we recommend visiting the Angkor Wat temple, where you can also receive blessings from monks, which can be an unforgettable souvenir for the whole year. Or stop by the south of the country, in Kampot, for the best pepper in the world.