Throughout history, the dates that count as the "new year" have changed a couple of times due to regime changes and political decisions within Thailand. Today, the official new year is on January 1st, like the rest of the world. The 1st of January is called ปีใหม่ (“pi mai”), ปี is “year,” and ใหม่ is “new.”
Alongside this is Songkran-สงกรานต์. Songkran is considered the Thai New Year that takes place in mid-April. The date of Songkran used to be calculated each year by a royal astrologer, but now, for practical reasons, it is officially on April 13–15 every year. Taking place during a long weekend, Songkran is the time of year when people emphasize the importance of honoring their ancestors and taking a break to go home and spend time with their families. Offices and shops close to accommodate the holiday and travel plans, which can be the whole weekend or extend to the entire week.
Like many Thai traditions, Songkran has a lot of Brahmanism influence and many aspects that involve Buddhism. Buddhism is the most prominent religion in Thailand, with more than 90% of Thai people being Buddhist. Therefore, many significant acts during Songkran symbolize cleansing, unity, and good fortune for the upcoming new year. Bathing Buddha images and making merits with family members is traditionally done, and other fun activities, such as water fights, feasting, games, and folk dance, are also part of the celebration (UNESCO, TheNationThailand).
Currently, to boost tourism in Thailand, the Thai government has extended Songkran celebrations in various ways. Places such as Silom Road and Khao San Road are spotlighted as destinations to attract international travel, all while encompassing the usual Thai traditions of water fights, street food, and music (SindhornMidtown). Many places and institutions have begun their countdown to Songkran!
Here, at SongkranFest, we will be counting down the days to Songkran by sharing information about Songkran! This information will help our participants become more knowledgeable about the Thai New Year, as well as help them center Thai culture in their fanworks.
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"This decade has been one of the most positive for news about tiger conservation of any since conservation science began in earnest, and a highlight must be this mother tiger and her two cubs sighted in Western Thailand, the first such sighting in more than 10 years of close monitoring.
Tigers are stable or increasing across their entire remaining strongholds, including China, Russia, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and now Thailand—the only Southeast Asian country to see measurable increases in tiger population over the last 12 years.
There may now be as many as 190 tigers in the country, up from 46 logged in a population survey in 2007.
The sight of the mother and her cubs, in the Salak Phra Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the sprawling Western Forest Complex of Thungyai–Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries that stretch across 2,400 square miles, is a sign that Thailand’s conservation efforts are really working; not only are tigers breeding outside of core areas, but that must therefore mean there is enough large game, like sambar deer, to feed them.
“This is a big news for us,” said Rattapan Pattanarangsan, the conservation program manager at the Thai chapter of Panthera, a renowned wildcat conservation NGO. “…now we are the source, we can produce tigers from our place. That means our place is safe enough, and has enough prey for the mothers to eat and breed.”
Neighboring Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam haven’t been able to make meaningful progress in restoring their tigers, and if they ever needed a few individual animals, Thailand now has a stable, growing population that is adapted to similar forest conditions.
Pattanarangsan told The Guardian that creative efforts to stop poachers, such as by working together with ranchers to place early warning cameras on forest trails have worked significantly.
Reductions in commercial bamboo harvesting have also reduced human-tiger conflict, and the animals look poised to continue flourishing in the western rainforests of the country."
-via Good News Network, January 8, 2024
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Thai Restaurant in a small town in Ireland
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