Songkran

Songkran is the New Year festival in Thailand, officially observed for three days, April 13 - 15, but actually the celebration usually lasts the entire week. 

The word songkran comes from the Sanskrit, meaning "to pass or move into", referring to the passing and moving of the sun from one sign of the Zodiac to another (but it's also taken to mean "moving forward into a better life"). There are in fact twelve Songkrans each year, but this Songkran (sometimes called the Great Songkran) is when the sun enters the sign of Aries the Ram, always near to the vernal equinox.

April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, and maybe that is why water is a theme for this festival. All statues of the Buddha are ceremonially washed, and then the entire country participates in friendly water fights and street parties that last nearly a week. 

Agenda Today:

1. Clean house:

Songkran is a time for spring cleaning, both physically and spiritually. On the physical side, people clean their houses, and throw out anything old or useless, especially anything that has brought bad luck in the past year.

I plan to clean my living room windows and drapes this week, and take a couple bags of clothes to the thrift store.

2. Make resolutions:
On the spiritual side, some Thai people make New Year resolutions.

I will take time to review my resolutions from January 1, and renew my resolve.

3. Connect with Family:

During Songkran, most offices, banks, small shops, and restaurants shut down completely, as many people travel back to their home towns for family reunions.

Traditionally, Thais perform the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual on the first day of Songkran, which is also National Elderly Day:  Young people pour perfumed water into their elders’ palms as a gesture of humility and to ask for their blessings.

The second day of Songkran is National Family Day. Families wake up early and give alms to the monks, then spend the rest of the day together.

4. Water play:

The most famous aspect of the Songkran celebrations is the water fights. It originated from using the 'blessed' water that cleaned the images of Buddha to soak other people, which was a way of paying respect and bringing good fortune.

Nowadays Thais walk the streets with containers of water or water guns, or stand at the side of roads with a hose and soak any one who passes by.

We did have a water fight in my class last week, but I was having too much fun to remember to take pictures!

5. Make Thong Yod (Golden Egg Drops):
Thong Yod is an ancient Thai dessert, served now to symbolically wish wealth and treasure for everyone in the New Year.

Ingredients:

• 2-1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1/8-c. wheat flour
• 1/8 c. rice flour

1. Make a sugar syrup with the powdered sugar and 2 c. water. Heat to boiling in a medium pot.

2. Separate the egg yolks. Blend them for 15 minutes, until thick and fluffy. Add the flours and mix well.


3. Using your fingers, gather and drop small balls of the mixture into the boiling syrup to make small droplets. Do this until the pan is full. (If the syrup is too thick, add a little water.) Cook until soft inside and golden outside. 

4. Remove the drops to a bowl with a small amount of syrup and cool in the refrigerator.