 If you like
a New Year's party, Thailand is the place for you. Samui's people are
blessed with no less than three annual opportunities to ring in a new
year with their European friends on January 1st, with their Chinese
friends in early February, and on April 13, which has for centuries
marked the first day of of the traditional Thai solar calendar. This
last celebration is called Songkran, and it is one of the most joyous
occasions in The Kingdom.
The word Songkran comes from the Sanskrit words for "New Year", and the
Thai celebration was probably imported with major aspects of Indian
culture over 2,500 years ago.
Songkran in Thailand is a holiday primarily dedicated to the family, and
tourists may notice a much slimmer staff manning the restaurants and
hotels as every employee who is able goes home to spend the day with his
or her relatives.
 Back in the
provinces huge meals are pre-pared, homes are fastidiously cleaned, and
sacred altars and images respectfully washed. Family members who are
scattered for the rest of the year by employment or marriage come
together to renew their bonds and exchange gossip. Perhaps the most
lovely rite associated with Songkran is the wai khon gaa ceremony, where
whole neighborhoods will line up to pour water over the hands of the
community's two oldest members, giving and receiving blessings for the
coming year.
Unfortunately, because over 90% of the Thai people on Samui are
originally from other provinces, it is not easy to find these ancient
and moving ceremonies here. The most common manifestation of Songkran to
be seen on Samui is the practice of sat nam, which means gaining control
of large quantities of water, preferably chilled to just below freezing,
and an advantageous spot from which to surprise and drench passing
unwary pedestrians.
 On April 13
every year the streets of every town and village on the island are lined
with giggling teenagers armed with and arsenal of water guns, buckets.
barrels , dippers, hoses and all manner of delivery vehicle with which
to launch their often icy-cold liquid missiles. Only police officers in
uniform are immune to attack; everyone else is expected to take their
punishment with good humor. It is not uncommon to enter the post office,
bank or some other place of business and be greeted by a smiling clerk
wearing a sopping wet shirt and tie.
While we may be able to trace the source of the holiday itself, nobody
knows for sure why Thai people delight in dousing each other in cold
water on Songkran day, or why it is apparently even more fun to douse
strangers, especially foreign strangers. What is obvious is that the
practice of throwing water around on one of the hottest days of the year
releases tensions, cooling the head along with the body. And during this
day a visitor has only two choices, 1) hide in his room or 2)join in the
fun and sling a little water of his own.
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