Some countries have day or week long fireworks displays
while others have long and loud alcohol fueled dance parties. Some focus on
family and community while others focus on spirituality and renewal of the
self. But nowhere other than SE Asia does the New Year involve donning your
gaudiest floral attire, stocking up on plastic guns and taking to the streets
to shoot and douse strangers with water.
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| What could be more fun than flowered shirts, bubbles, water guns? |
April 13-15 is the traditional Thai New Year, though January
1 is the official day in keeping with the international calendars. The days are
national holidays and many businesses are closed and people often travel to see
families. Though it may seem like days of frivolity created to alleviate the
madness created by the summer heat--everyday is nearly 40/100 degrees--there
are meaningful roots to be found in the splashing.
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| Stephen in battle mode |
As far as I can tell from my brief internet research, in the past the day was used to clean Buddha statues. The
statues were sometimes brought around the towns and villages and people would
splash water on them and the collected "blessed" water from the statue
cleaning was poured on elders and family to symbolize washing away the past
and giving blessings for the next year.
In addition to the buckets of ice cold water, people will
also stop to rub some talc powder mixed with water onto your face. This is
symbolic of the chalk used by monks to mark their blessings when you go to the temple to make merit.
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| Many add color to their blessing goop |
Now, anyone who steps outside is fair game for throwing
water on, whether on a motorcycle, tuk-tuk or just walking around. Some people,
foreigners included, will travel or stay home to avoid the "fun". We
wanted the full experience, so joined the local Hash Harriers-- a group of
ex-pats who torture themselves each week with long afternoon runs followed by
copious amounts of beer and food. After maintaining our post at the Coffee Love
Bar and shooting countless children, teens, and elders, we set off for a short
walk around the town, engaging in water fights with everyone and occasionally
stopping at the beer truck for a refreshment. Unfortunately, this was NOT a
typical summer day. It was cool and rainy.
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| Taking it to the streets |
Don't get me wrong. People still go to the temple to make
merit and give alms to the monks. People pay respect to their families on this
day and use it as a time to reflect on the past and make goals for the coming
year. Some lament that the once very traditional day has evolved into just a
day of play with the meaning taken out of the equation--not to mention some of
the negative consequences related to drinking and getting splashed in the face
while driving. However, what I experienced on this day was lovely community
spirit. Regardless of age or class, everyone played together as equals, sharing
their water with those whose guns were empty. Everyone seemed heartfelt in
their "Happy New Years" and best of all, everyone got to shed the chains
of adult responsibility and for a few blessed hours, be a kid again.
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| Everyone especially loved shooting the giant foreigner |
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| Before my hair and eyes were matted with water and colored powder |
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| The gun on the left only made it a few rounds |
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| I wish I had dressed more fashionably like the teens |
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| Mom and daughter squad |
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| Many of the wimpier foreigners stayed "dry" inside the bar |
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| guarding the powder for sale |
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| Steve and Mick talk strategy |
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| older women and children are fair game |
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| Bubble machine!!! |
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| quick stop at the beer truck |
