Songkrahn Festival

[jpatokal]

Looks like I'll be in Bangkok again starting April 16th or so -- will Songkran be over yet, or will I be doused with water the moment I step out of the hotel? When does the party end? And can I bring a Super Soaker in my carry-on luggage? :D

[jpatokal]

Now come on, I'm sure there's somebody reading this who can answer... it would be nice to know what to wear, and if I'll have to stick to taxis when going to work. Google, surprisingly, isn't all that helpful: I know the official days are April 13-15, but at least in Pattaya the party continues into next week...

[admin]

i think by the 16th it should be getting back to normal (in Bangkok), but over the years the Songkran festivities have been stretching longer and longer

[jpatokal]

For the record, I've been in Bangkok since last Friday evening, and during the last 48 hours I have received an unexpected dose of water one (1) time -- and this was a just little incense-scented splash thanks to a slightly overenthusiatic monk at Wat Arun.

[Huckuba]

Can anybody give me the exact dates of the next songkran?

[Wisarut]

April 13-15, 2005

[ncr]

We all know that the Thai New Year is in April.

Nevertheless, the year changes in January, not April, in accordance with the western calendar. (This is also true for the Buddhist year count. BE 2548 will begin on 1st January 2005.)

So I assume at some point in history this must have been changed by law or per royal decree. My question is, when?

Could it have been in King Chulalongkorn's reign? He is well-known for all the reforms and innovations he brought.

[jpatokal]

You're half right! The solar calendar was adopted on the order of Chulalongkorn, but moving the beginning of the year to January was decreed by PM Phibunsongkhram in 1941. It's interesting to note that Thailand's war buddy Japan also did something very similar, as Imperial years in Japan were also changed to start from January 1st and hence match the Western calendar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_solar_calendar

[ncr]

Thanks for the info! Very interesting.

[ttaaee]

Check this website (http://www.songkran.net/) out!

Happy Songkran everyone! :)

[GWR]

Good! It's raining. That usually dampens the raucous Songkran proceedings down a bit. Three days indoors bests typifies my response to Songkran. And I hate the dangers of travelling anywhere. I once drove to Trang and back for Songkran. Even the muslim villages were out throwing water. Loads of accidents! And the driving - even of those who are definitely not drunk on alcohol - is absolutely appalling. Modern Songkran brings out the worst.

That said, I once went to a traditional Songkran ceremony out in the country, organized to celebrate a grandfather who was almost 100 (He didn't quite make it!). That was actually quite civilised and enjoyable.

[The Enforcer!]

I am in the Ebenezer Scrouge group. Sadly I think a quaint custom has gotten so out of hand that it has become a danger to life and limb, as well as seriously damaging to business.

Humbug!

The Enforcer!

[GWR]

I'm glad I locked the door.

After getting shitfaced drunk, the Isaan construction workers over the fence ended up having a bottle-throwing fight. It isn't the first time this has happened either. (I think this might be related to the fact that they don't like the local attitude to their beloved Fuhrer.) Anyway, the local attitude also extended to letting them get on with it. No one local seems to care if they injure or kill each other.

Lasy year (or was it the year before), the local oddjobber got ambushed in the market. He was also shitfaced, and carrying a sidecar full of local kids.
He ended up with the kickstart in his eye. Not only did he lose his sight, but he now hobbles round on a stick. He used to have quite a reasonable income. Now, he can't go up on roofs. So he's the local 'saling' (recycling man). In fairness, he is obviously trying hard to make a living. He was very determined in his efforts to walk again. Because he's always been a likeable guy, the locals all try to make sure he gets plenty of recyclable stuff.

More rain. Thank God!

[von Hirschhorn]

For God sake I am happy to be in Holland – a lot of water but no throwing - and not Chiang Mai at the moment. Songkran, one better should say ‘Songkhram’: water war.
Were are the days of politeness, a small saucer of fresh water over your shoulder, a bit white powder on your face and "sawatdee pee mai." Happy New Year and happy forwards on the by then accessible streets. Today’s carnival has nothing to do with the old rite, a pity but the folks deserve what the like, apparently.
However, no offence, be in Thailand I should stay at home, in Chiang Mai a few days longer because of the happiness in water throwing. Another option is flee, a few Songkran years I stayed in Yunnan (China) and only one thing; be aware and / or stay away from the minorities (Thai yai) they well willing to drop some water on you.

[MikeS]

Hi, my first post is inquiry on the history of songrans water fight part in Bangkok.

Any idea when and how and when the unofficial festivites moved to Khao San Road? As currently it feels like official, or "almost official non-official" place to "confine" the water fight parts. :) And what about Ratchadamnoen Klang
Road and Ratchadamnoen Nai as they are party avenues too, although lot less "traffic".

And other historical thing...when did the songran extend to the long holiday it currently is? My own guess was that this has something to do with the general movement of populations to cities and their need to have days to travel back upcountry whenever there is days off from work. But the when the holidays extended to the three, four days it now is.

Ok, this kind of difficult history snippets came to my mind to ask from the wise men and women here. :)

Greets,
Mikey S

[MikeS]

I guess most people have sobered up already. ;-) So, pick your brains a bit and help share the history with us (or me). :) Thanks fellas and gals! :)