CHINESE NEW YEAR - February 3, swipe your grudges ... but not your houses!
Written by Sophie Mollin
The party is not included in the official calendar Khmer, yet the celebration of Chinese New Year takes place today. Happy New Year to all the Rabbit!
Phnom Penh is a few days ago, a new dress. It takes down the Christmas balls that are now replaced by lanterns, garlands and pictures of big rabbits chubby golden red background. The wind of Chinese may be surprising, given the non-recognition of this celebration by the Kingdom. Yet, an estimated 350,000 population of Sino-Khmer in Cambodia, many people who celebrate from today, and for at least three days, the festival of Tet, or Chinese New Year, also called the "Spring Festival".
Time for spring cleaning, spiritual
On this occasion, time stops for Chinese and Vietnamese around the world. It is time for prayer and offerings to a fresh start in the new year. Sombath Khmer is a student of Chinese origin and three days of celebration, he will spend with his family "We meet all together, and we pray, we pray a lot. For good luck, health, happiness , longevity, fortune ... In fact, we must not sweep her house the first few days. Dust is money. If you hunt out of the house, we could also lose our money! ".
Every moment of celebration and is codified in a very formal. " The first day, you can not walk from any where. You must stay with family in the house, and pay homage to our ancestors " adds Sombath. It is also that day that offered the Hong Bao, small red envelopes containing money, a sort of gift to help young people start the year.
And the party continues, punctuated by prayers and traditional meals. We forget the bitterness and anger. The moment also for families to purchase new clothes. And after the festivities, more or less long according to the families and the region, although the brush is first stayed in the closet, it requires that the house has finally been, too, his great cleaning.
Truancy
The three days of Chinese New Year holidays are not in Cambodia, complicating the task of some. Many shops are closed during this period. Sombath parents are merchants, and they will not work during the festival: "Some Khmer think it is a waste of time and money , "he laments. Him, he will miss classes at the university. But all dare not, like him, passing the tradition before the bonds. Reasmey Mom, Student first-year medical students will not be with his family for the occasion: "My grandparents live in a small village near Phnom Penh and as this is not a holiday and I can not miss classes, I will not go. "
There is, however, that more and more Khmer join the celebration. For others, it was not until April, when, from 13 to 16, the New Year Khmer to be celebrated in turn.
Each year, the day of Tet is held the last day of Chinese lunar calendar, but varies in our Gregorian calendar between January 20 and February 20. Today is the Year of the Rabbit metal starts (equivalent of the cat or rabbit). Thus, according to Chinese astrology, if you were born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987 or 1999 is your year! But beware ... Rabbits and cats are cute, but during the next three days, it is the dragons are out!
Sophie Mollin (www.lepetitjournal.com / cambodge.htlm) Thursday, February 3, 2011
