Lao New Year Festival
Although times and customes are changing very quickly and tradition are dying, many people still keep up the LAO NEW YEAR tradition, especially if there are children in the family. Several weeks before New Year, private and official organizations and families get ready celebrate the New Year all province in Laos. The children go singing and dancing. This is also the season of children’s plays at the theatre. A lot of Laos send some New Year cards every year to friends. Pimai is celebrated in the middle of April of every year, a time which is far more auspicious than January, since it harmonizes with the natural seasons of the year. The weeks before the holiday houses and rooms are repainted and decorated. Boys and girls buy some plastic water pistol because it is very hot in Lao New Year the temperature is about 40 celcius in Shade. In the principle province such Vientiane capital, Luangprabang or Champasack … will organize beauty contest or we call Nang Sang khan (Miss New Year) is selected among the most beautiful girls of different hight schools. Pimay ( Lao New Year) is celebrated in the middle of April, generally over the three days: 1. The first day : Mu Nang Sang khan Luong former ( Nang Sang khan’s departure day). In the afternoon a large crowd of people gather in the temple. Each of them brings candles, flowers, perfume and some water. After making prayer, the monk get down small statues of Buddhas, lay them down on a large tray and wash them before watering the statues the people wish they could get good merit not only in the actual generation but in the next too. And they wish for wonderful days filled with happiness and wealth throughout the New Year. They also wter each other to wash away all the bad things along with the on going year and are preapare for the better days. At night they are organized in the main street of the town Mohlam (Lao folksingers) Lamlueng (Legend song) Lamvong (Lao revolving circle dancing). 2. Seconday : Mu Nao ( Rest day) during which all work is forbidden. The show programme is the same. 3. The third day: Mu Nang Sang khan Khun ( Nang Sang khan ‘s arrival day ). This day corresponds the firstday of the New Year It should be happy and lucky for everyboday fro that, mothers are supposed to get up earlier in the morning and cook a gastronomic meal for example the Lap ( Popular Laodish of meat ; Lap means luck in Lao) and offer it to the monks. The great part of young people prepares banana made cornets decorated with flowers, put them into bowls. With these cornets of flowers they go to their grand parents, parents, and elderly people for blessing and forgiveness for their wrong-doings in the past one year. The first day of New Year is also a popular day for happiness, for children and grow-ups parties and visiting friends.
From www.inlao.net
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