Note: The Twelve years in the lunar calendar
1. Year of Rat
2. Year of Ox
3. Year of Tiger
4. Year of Rabbit
5. Year of Dragon
6. Year of Snake
7. Year of Horse
8. Year of Goat
9. Year of Monkey
10. Year of Rooster
11. Year of Dog
12. Year of Pig
The Origin of the Khmer New Year Celebration
Khmer New Year Legend
The celebration of the Khmer New Year has a very interesting legend. You will notice that in the picture of the New Year Angel, she comes carrying a jeung bian (golden tray) with the king of the gods' head. The story goes that once there was a very smart boy called Dhomabal Khumar, born to a very wealthy family. Dhomabal was exceptional in that he spoke four languages, reach at 7 years of age the ancient texts and canonical scriptures that monks study and spoke to the birds.
The village people loved him as he was not only clever but also kind. His father built him a beautiful temple close to the river where the birds lived and there Dhomabal would speak to the birds. But then, the king of the gods, KabilMohaProm, became jealous of Dhomabal and issued a challenge. He told Dhomabal that if he could not answer the questions he posed to him, he would cut his head off. But, if he could answer it, KabilMohaProm will cut off his own head. The questions:Where do you find happiness in the morning? The Noontime? And, in the evening?
As Dhomabal did not know the answer, he run away to the forest. Fearing for his life, he slumped into a tree where two eagles were perched in a conversation. Dhomabal heard them talking about the question on happiness to which they gave the answer. So Dhomabal learned the answers: in the morning, you find happiness in your face; midday, you find it in your body, and at night, your feet. Dhomabal gave the god the answer and he went to the king of the gods and gave him the answer. Because it was correct, the king of the gods had his own head cut off. He then told his eldest daughter to put his head in a jeung pian and carrying this golden tray circle around the Sumeru mountain for 60minutes and then bring his head to the Khimalay temple in heaven. His head cannot be thrown to the ground as this will cause fire, to the the sky as this will cause drought or to the ocean as this will dry up so the seven daughters have to take turns carrying the head. From then on, as the king of the gods cannot anymore bless his people, he sent his seven daughters as his angels to give his Khmer people blessing at the start of the new year.
Because of the story of Dhomabal, to get the blessing for the new year, the Khmer follow the ritual of washing their face in the morning, their body in midday and their feet in the evening.
Know the 2011 Khmer New Year Angel
The 2011 Khmer NewYear Angel is KarineyTevi
This year's Khmer New Year angel is the fifth youngest in the family of seven and her name is KarineyTevi. She'll come riding on an elephant joined by a cast of thousands of angels. At the lead of the procession is the guide angel riding a rabbit, this being the year of the rabbit and therefore her knowing the way. Please...do not call her Rudolph!
You can see this year's angel, KarineyTevi, on the cover of the book, Maha Songkran, published each year to guide the Khmer on how to celebrate this new year. The offerings are clearly stated there and the time when the angel arrives. It looks like the she'll come between 11-12 noon on the 14th of April, a Thursday. You can see the angel wearing green, the color that Khmer wear when they go to the temple on a Thursday. She does NOT say ho ho ho!
The coming of the angel will be announced by drums and gongs in the temples. At home, the Khmer watch the television to wait for the signal that the angel has come. It's the same guys that do the Santa radar watch. Once the signal has been aired, the family gathers around the table prepared specially for this occasion and pray to the angel to give them the blessing.
What the Khmer New Year Angel Wants for 2011
Karineytevi has made her desire known
The Khmer believe that the families that prepare well to welcome the New Year Angel, will get what they pray for. In fact, astrologers are employed to determine what the angels love. It turns out that for 2010, the New Year Angel wanted fresh milk and red juice.
This year, 2011, 1 pair of numva banana, a pair of coconuts, 11 items of fruits and sweets are what the angels want. So, get ready and let the Khmer new year angel find you worthy.
Introducing the other Khmer New Year Angels
Names of the Khmer New Year Angels
- 1First Angel: Tuksa Tevi. The Sunday Angel who comes riding a bird of fire, the Phoenix.
- 2Second Angel: Korike Tevi. The Monday Angel who comes riding a Tiger.
- 3Third Angel: Reakyasa Tevi. The Tuesday Angel who comes riding an Atsara.
- 4Fourth Angel: Mondea Tevi. The Wednesday Angel who comes riding a donkey.
- 5Fifth Angel: Kariney Tevi. The Thursday Angel who comes riding and elephant. This is the 2011 angel as the first day of Khmer New Year this year is Thursday.
- 6Sixth Angel: Kemerea Tevi. The Firday Angel who comes riding a buffalo.
- 7Seventh Angel: Mohouterea Tevi. The Saturday Angel who comes riding a peacock.
Cambodian New Year is most important holiday. The cities empty as Cambodians rush to spend the holiday with family. The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year’s Day. This time of the year is at the end of the harvesting season. The farmers enjoy the fruits of their harvest and relax before the rainy season begins. Gifts and tips are especially auspicious during April and should be accompanied with the phrase ‘Sok Sabay, Ch’nam Tmey’ (Happy New Year!)
Days before the Chaul Chnam Thmey, Cambodians get busy. They clean the house, every corner of it. The angel may check! They prepare special food and buy new clothes. Even the husband gets a polishing and grandma a decent dusting at least. Everything has to be spic and span for the visit of the New Year Angel and with the kids, you've got it, she knows who has been naughty or nice.
-The three days of the new year:
1.Thursday, 14 April 2011 Maha Songkran (មហាសង្រ្កាន្ត) Maha Songkran, derived from Sanskrit Maha Sankranti, is the name of the first day of the new year celebration. It is the ending of the year and the beginning of a new one. People dress up and light candles and burn incense sticks at shrines, where the members of each family pay homage to offer thanks for the Buddha's teachings by bowing, kneeling and prostrating themselves three times before his image. For good luck people wash their face with holy water in the morning, their chests at noon, and their feet in the evening before they go to bed.2.Friday, 15 April 2011 Virak Wanabat (វ័នបត) Virak Wanabat is the name of the second day of the new year celebration. People contribute charity to the less fortunate by helping the poor, servants, homeless, and low-income families. Families attend a dedication ceremony to their ancestors at the monastery.
3.Saturday, 16 April 2011 Tngay Leang Saka (ថ្ងៃឡើងស័ក) Tngay Leang Saka is the name of the third day of the new year celebration. Buddhists cleanse the Buddha statues and their elders with perfumed water. Bathing the Buddha images is the symbol that water will be needed for all kinds of plants and lives. It is also thought to be a kind deed that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity in life. By bathing their grandparents and parents, children can obtain from them best wishes and good advice for the future.
New Year's customs
In temples, people erect a sand hillock on temple grounds. They mound up a big pointed hill of sand or dome in the center which represents sakyamuni satya, the stupa at Tavatimsa, where the Buddha's hair and diadem are buried. The big stupa is surrounded by four small ones, which represent the stupas of the Buddha's favorite disciples: Sariputta, Moggallana, Ananda, and Maha Kassapa. There is another tradition: pouring water or liquid plaster (a mixture of water with some chalk powder) on someone.
The Khmer New Year is also a time to prepare special dishes. One of these is a "kralan": a cake made from steamed rice mixed with beans or peas, grated coconut and coconut milk. The mixture is stuffed inside a bamboo stick and slowly roasted.
Khmer games (ល្បែងប្រជាប្រិយ)
Cambodia is home to a variety of games played to transform the dull days into memorable occasions. These games are similar to those played at Manipur, a north-eastern state in India. Throughout the Khmer New Year, street corners often are crowded with friends and families enjoying a break from routine, filling their free time with dancing and games. Typically, Khmer games help maintain one's mental and physical dexterity. The body's blood pressure, muscle system and brain are challenged and strengthened for fun.
- "Tres"
A game played by throwing and catching a ball with one hand while trying to catch an increasing number of sticks with the other hand. Usually, pens or chopsticks are used as the sticks to be caught.
- "Chol Chhoung (ចោលឈូង) "
A game played especially on the first nightfall of the Khmer New Year by two groups of boys and girls. Ten or 20 people comprise each group, standing in two rows opposite each other. One group throws the "chhoung" to the other group. When it is caught, it will be rapidly thrown back to the first group. If someone is hit by the "chhoung," the whole group must dance to get the "chhoung" back while the other group sings.
- "Chab Kon Kleng (ចាប់កូនខ្លែង) "
A game played by imitating a hen as she protects her chicks from a crow. Adults typically play this game on the night of the first New Year's Day. Participants usually appoint a strong player to play the hen who protects "her" chicks, while another person is picked to be the "crow". While both sides sing a song of bargaining, the crow tries to catch as many chicks as possible as they hide behind the hen.
- "Bos Angkunh (បោះអង្គុញ)"
A game played by two groups of boys and girls. Each group throws their own "angkunh" to hit the master "angkunhs," which belong to the other group and are placed on the ground. The winners must knock the knees of the losers with the "angkunh." "Angkunh" is also the name of an inedible fruit seed, which looks like a knee bone.
- "Leak Kanseng (លាក់កន្សែង) "
A game played by a group of children sitting in a circle. Someone holding a "kanseng" (Cambodian towel) that is twisted into a round shape walks around the circle while singing a song. The person walking secretly tries to place the "kanseng" behind one of the children. If that chosen child realizes what is happening, he or she must pick up the "kanseng" and beat the person sitting next to him or her.
- "Bay Khon"
A game played by two children in rural or urban areas during their leisure time. Ten holes are dug in the shape of an oval into a board in the ground. The game is played with 42 small beads, stones or fruit seeds. Before starting the game, five beads are put into each of the two holes located at the tip of the board. Four beads are placed in each of the remaining eight holes. The first player takes all the beads from any hole and drops them one by one in the other holes. He or she must repeat this process until they have dropped the last bead into a hole that lies besides any empty one. Then they must take all the beads in the hole that follows the empty one. At this point, the second player may have his turn. The game ends when all the holes are empty. The player with the greatest number of beads wins the game. It is possibly similar to congkak.
- "Klah Klok (ខ្លា ឃ្លោក) "
A game played by Cambodians of all ages. It is a gambling game that is fun for all ages involving a mat and some dice. You put money on the object that you believe the person rolling the dice (which is usually shaken in a type of bowl) and you wait. If the objects face up on the dice are the same as the objects you put money on, you double it. If there are two of yours, you triple, and so on.
--We have more ...:D if you can share please !
Thanks,
