In Thailand though, depending on who one is with; there can be any number of New Year holidays and any number of ways to celebrate.Of course there is December 31 and January 1.This New Year indicates the time to change the calendar.The issue is only slightly confused by whether a Buddhist or Western calendar is used.Right now in Thailand, the year is either 2002 if dealing with someone from the West or 2545 if dealing with most Thai people. Occasionally there is the mathematical challenge of figuring out just what year something happened.For instance, if an event occurred in the year 2513 there will be confused looks for us from the west until we figure out that means the year 1970.It is not rocket science, but the subject of occasional confusion none-the-less.
This past December 31 and January 1 we celebrated the New Year with a group from the Lahu Baptist Church here in Chiang Mai.The Lahus traditionally celebrate the New Year in February in close conjunction with the Chinese New Year.In fact, I used to think that they just celebrated the Chinese New Year.It is a logical assumption in that many Lahu have their family roots in China.But, I was told that the Lahu have their own New Year that is separate from the Chinese celebration.I am not clear on just when this takes place or who declares that it is the right time for it to occur but am sure they have system in place.
The traditional Lahu New Year celebration includes special dances, games and food.Feast food for the Lahu generally includes massive amounts pork and rice.A cardiologist might have palpitations at even the thought of all the pork fat that is consumed, but virtually none of the pig is wasted.That means in any given food bowl, any portion of a pig's anatomy is likely to be found.Another traditional New Year's food is made from high gluten, sticky rice, mixed with a little sesame seed.The sticky rice is pounded until the individual grains are all blended together.It is then formed into cakes and roasted on a fire.The result is a heavy, warm, semisweet, soft taffy-like treat.
The dances are performed in a circle around a tree set up in the center. Hung on the tree are chunks of pork and some rice representing hope and prosperity in the coming year.The men play a kind of multi-reed flute and perform dances involving rather intricate steps.They dance in an inner circle, close to the tree.The women (and perhaps male visitors that don't know the men's dances) keep the beat on drums and perform different and somewhat less complicated, dance steps in an outer ring.
Several games are usually played only at New Year's as well.Men will play a game with large heavy, wooden tops.They divide into teams.One team will start a top spinning in an open area.A counterpart from the other team will throw his top from a prescribed distance and try to hit the first top.If the top is hit, points are scored.If it is missed, the other team gets points.These games can go on for hours and days and large groups are attracted to cheer or jeer.
Not to be out done, the women have their own games.There is a large plant here called sahbah.It produces huge, bean like seed pods filled with round seeds that can be as large as several inches across.I have seen children use these seeds for wheels on play carts.At New Years, the Lahu will use the seeds for a game sort of like marbles.Teams are made.One team will take their seed and place them on edge in the ground.The second team will line up behind a line and throw their beans trying to knock down the seeds standing on edge.If a throw knocks a seed down, a second throw is allowed. A person can keep throwing until they miss.Some throw from a standing position, others squat and still others lean and fall forward releasing their bean just before hitting the ground.Points are scored depending on the number of beans knocked over and eventually, a winner is declared.
The Lahu wouldn't normally have this kind of New Year celebration on January 1, but the church wants to promote the preservation of the Lahu culture. Many Lahu are leaving their home villages in the hills and coming to Chiang Mai to study or work.As they come and stay, they often blend in to the lifestyle of the majority Thai and the Lahu culture is being forgotten. Starting a Lahu-style celebration at the international New Year is one way they hope to preserve their culture and provide a Christian New Year celebration at the same time.
As I write this, Easter is just finished but Chiang Mai is gearing up for still another New Year.This is the traditional Thai New Year or Song Kran. In the quiet days of yesteryear, Song Kran was celebrated by the gentle pouring of water over the hands of people.It was done as a kind of blessing for the New Year.Pouring water over the hands of newlyweds is also done at wedding ceremonies to bless the new couple.
The modern celebration of Song Kran is anything but gentle or quiet, especially in Chiang Mai.Hoards of people from all over Thailand and the world descend on Chiang Mai.The city government now limits the holiday to three days, but the city is virtually closed for those days as everyone engages in a citywide water fight.Pick up trucks are equipped with barrels of water.Others will line their truck beds with plastic and fill the bed with water.Riders have any number of styles of water throwing or water shooting devices. Others will set up a base on the ground along the roadside.As vehicles pass by, the water fight ensues.
In the heart of Chiang Mai is a water-filled moat that served in olden times as the defense system of the ancient city.This is where the water fight is really at its peak.The roads are so clogged that vehicles can hardly move. People are so numerous, they can hardly move as well.And water is thrown in every direction.
International New Year, Chinese New Year, Lahu New Year and the Thai New Year (Song Kran), are some of the New Year choices we have.They occur from January to April.So pick one or all but have a Happy New Year and may our Lord and Savior lead and guide you no matter when your year starts or ends!