The Thai New Year

Every year for new year. Really it's called the SONGKHAN festival.

It's celebrated in Thailand April 13th to 15th and somtime through the16th.

The most known celebration of songkhan is the water splashing. Also songkhan is a thai word that means"move" or "change place". Most people believe that the water will wash away bad luck.

Traditionlly it's a time for goingto a wat ( Buddist temple ) to make merit, showing respect for one's elders, and washing the household Buddha image. In more modern times, the 'cleansing'aspect has been expanded to include a country wide, no holds-barred water fight that lasts 3 to 5 day.

"Sawatdee Piimai" Happy New Year !

The Festival of Lights

Loi Krathong, one of the most popular festivals of Thailand, is celebrated annually on the full-moon day of the twelfth lunar month. Loi Krathong dates back to the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom (Thailand), about 700 years ago, and it marked the end of the rainy season and the main rice harvest. Its name comes from the words “Loi,” which means “to float” and “Krathong,” a lotus-shaped vessel made of banana leaves.

Every November, we celebrate Loi Krathong at Cha Da Thai, and hope you will join us.

Walsh Sisoukrath and Staff