Song Kran

Song Kran is Thai New Year's celebration.  Basically, it's a three-day long country-wide water fight (which lasts even longer in some places.) This year was a first for me, but I'm already looking forward to next year.  

 

I celebrated with a couple of my English students and their family in Northern Thailand.  Across the river is Laos.  The family when there to travel for an afternoon, but I stayed on the Thailand side and visited some nice markets because of my visa. 

 One Song Kran Buddhist tradition is to "bathe" statues.  These statues were set up at the market so people could take a bowl of water and pour it over the statue as they pass by.  

Now for a peek at what my Song Kran involved...

Step 1 - Get dressed in a wild-colored shirt.  The week before I was wondering why all the stores were selling "Hawaiian" shirts.  Now I know.

Step 2 - Get ready with your squirt guns, buckets, hoses, and anything else that can be used for a water fight.  Then be brave and begin walking down the street.  Alternatively, you can stand in one spot and wait for others to walk to you.  (We chose the first option.)

Step 3 - Get wet!

Step 4 - Get others wet!

Step 5 - Get covered in baby powder.  (Yes, this makes a paste.  Yes, it's sticky and messy.  Yes, it's fun.)

 Many people ride in the back of pickup trucks with giant tubs of water.  When one passes another or drives by anyone on the side of the road, the water fight ensues. 

By the evening, less water is being thrown and the parties have begun.