What are the New Year customs in Cambodia?

The national religion of Cambodia is Buddhism, and the Day of the Dead, Water Festival and New Year are the three most important festivals in Cambodia. The traditional Cambodian New Year is celebrated for three consecutive days from April 14th to 16th on the Gregorian calendar.

Cambodian New Year is celebrated for three consecutive days, and Cambodian people usually hold all kinds of New Year celebrations, such as going to the market to buy New Year's goods, going to Buddhist temples to give alms and listen to monks chanting sutras, singing and dancing, as well as launching all kinds of traditional folk games.

Because of the Cambodian New Year, all government departments, institutions, schools and factories are closed, people do not work and are very relaxed, therefore, during the Cambodian New Year, everyone gathers together to welcome the fairies to the earth, and to pray for the New Year's harvests, the happiness of the whole family, and the peace of the country.

Preparation before the New Year

On the eve of the New Year, Cambodian flags start to be erected on the roadsides all over the country, and the whole rows of red flags are fluttering in the wind, which seem to be waving their hands to welcome the New Year from a distance. Buddhist temples are no exception, as monks and priests are busy in the days leading up to the new year, hanging up the five-color Buddhist flags and white crocodile flags, cleaning, and preparing for the arrival of the believers through a variety of traditional folk games.

Additionally, families clean their rooms, streets and villages, discarding all waste and hoping for good fortune in the coming year. In front of the gates, lights are put up, tables are set up, and offerings of flowers, fruits and perfume are made to welcome the New Year's fairies to the earth.

On the other hand, before the New Year, the market starts to sell the five-pointed star lanterns, which are essential for the traditional Cambodian New Year. Especially in the villages, women sell colorful five-pointed star lanterns on bicycles along the streets as early as half a month before the New Year.

The five-pointed star lanterns are made of bamboo and cellophane, and each space is made of cellophane in different colors such as red, yellow, green and pink, which is very beautiful. At the same time, the front side of the five-pointed star will be printed with "Happy New Year" in Cambodian characters, while the back side will be printed with different Chinese zodiac signs.

Housewives are also busy shopping in the market for New Year's goods, dry food and drinks in preparation for the celebration of the Cambodian New Year, and they do not forget to buy one or two five-pointed star lanterns to hang in front of their homes.

In addition, because the Cambodian people believe in Hinayana Buddhism, boys must go through the process of losing their hair and shaving their heads as monks once in their lives, putting on yellow robes, fasting, chanting Buddha's name to thank their parents for raising them, and they can return to the world anytime they like, so before the Cambodian New Year, many boys and teenagers lose their hair and shave their heads collectively, and then they return to the world only after the Cambodian New Year.

New Year's Eve

Monte Devi, the fourth princess of the Jade Emperor, is the patron saint of this year's Year of the Tiger, and the main offering is fresh milk. Princess Monte Devi will descend at 7:36 a.m. on the 14th of this month, when the Cambodian New Year officially begins.

According to Cambodian Buddhist traditions, every household in the country will stand in front of a table of offerings, light candles, burn incense and beat gongs and drums to welcome the fairy at the moment of her descent, hoping for peace and prosperity in the coming year.

On the second day of the New Year, Buddhist temples across the country are crowded with people, with Buddhist devotees flocking to the temples to listen to the monks chanting sutras and offering fasting rice for good luck, giving bathing rituals to the Buddha statues, piling up mountains of sand and playing a variety of traditional folk games.

During the New Year's period, families and young people of both sexes organize group outings, but the most popular places are Buddhist temples. During this period, Buddhist temples all over the country are crowded with people during the day and at night, who throw water, put powder on their faces, watch concerts and play traditional folk games.

On the third and final day of the Cambodian New Year, Buddhist believers bring their colorful paper cut-outs of gods and goddesses, as well as prepare some meals, and once again visit Buddhist temples to give alms to monks and listen to sutras, and to announce the official end of the three-day Cambodian New Year.