When I found out we got to celebrate the new year in Thailand I was more than excited. Songkran, the Budhist new year, is a three day celebration. The people celebrate by having parades and pouring water on each other to wash away their sins and bad luck. They pour it on the Buddha statures as well. What started as a simple blessing and cleaning one self, has turned into the world’s largest water festival in Chain Mai.
There was no possible way to leave your house without getting wet. People would stand by the side of the road with hoses and buckets waiting to splash water on you. They would pile people in the back of a truck. As a westerner you were doomed. Three days of soggy wet cloths and partying, what a great way to celebrate. No one had a frown on their face. No one got angry or upset for getting wet. They truly enjoyed every moment of the day.
I was able to experience the local celebration of the parades, dancers, and blessing of the statues. And I got to experience the tourist side of it, a massive water fight.
Can we bring this holiday to America?
