Laos/Thai/Cambodian New Year 2012

Amazing how fortunate I am to be able to celebrate a "new year" three times a year!  Sounds funny, huh?  I guess I really have never thought about "traditions & customs" until I became a mother. 

My father was born in northern Thailand and my mother was born in Vietnam.  I was born in Laos so having many "traditions" to influence my life became more of a blessing to me now that I'm adult.  Growing up in Laos, our family was not well to do.  We were not poor, but we were not rich either.  My father had another family and he rarely spent time with my family.  My mother was forced to work, so she left me and my other siblings in the care of a nanny.  

Growing up in Laos and Thailand, we never had an opportunity to celebrate birthdays and we rarely celebrated our Chinese/Vietnamese New Year or Laos/Thai New Year.  My aunt, who lives in France now, celebrated Chinese/Vietnamese New Year by having food offerings for our ancestors and dinner for the family at her home.  For years, my mother said that she never had any reasons to have one of our own since my aunt would already have "done it for our ancestors".  I think that the only time we did do something like this at home was when I was in the fifth grade living in Herndon.  

When I met my husband, I was so excited that his mother practices these customs and traditions.  For Chinese/Vietnamese New Year (around late January to early February), she would prepare a huge feast to feed fifty folks!  The house would have been cleaned prior to "THE DAY".  Food, tea and alcohol would have been placed on the dining room table as offerings to our ancestors.  We would then pray to them to let them know that they are still remembered.  Then we would ask for good education for our children, great prosperity, good health and happiness for our family.  After the incense sticks burned down to nothing, we would then be free to eat.  We would always have noodle dishes, steamed pork buns, quail egg soup, roast duck, broiled chicken, broiled pork, tons of dessert and plenty of laughter at the table.  One thing that never ceases to amaze me is that we (the adult kids) would rustle for the chicken liver; don't ask why it just tastes better on this day.

I always wait with anticipation to having this DAY be THE moment to share with those who are dear to me, no matter how busy life gets, this day seems to just make everything perfect.  Of course, the day is not complete without passing out red envelops with fresh crisp money to our children and then a round of card games for the adults.  I love this custom especially being able to feel a sense of togetherness.  This feeling of belonging, being loved, and being hopeful is what I really wish to pass onto my children.  

These past few years, my mother-in-law has not spent Chinese/Vietnamese New Year with us.  She's been spending her New Year in Thailand; however, in order to keep this custom going, I still would prepare for the New Year for my little family.  I loved watching Marisa and Ethan follow our example when we would kneel to pray to our ancestors and then sit around the table to wait to eat.  One thing that puts a smile on my face after a long preparation is to watch my little boy try to blow out the candle and incense.  I hope to instill the value of respect, love, tradition, and family to my children.  I hope to be able to get my mother-in-laws' recipes right and then create new customs & traditions for my children to pass on.  

In early April, we are fortunate to celebrate Laos/Thai/Cambodian New Year.  Since we live in an area with so many Buddhist Temples, we would attempt to go to every single temple each week.  This tradition is different from the Chinese/Vietnamese celebrating.  For this New Year celebration, we would attend a Buddhist ritual (giving alms for good merit & listening to the monks meditate) and shop around the temple grounds for authentic "home" food.  There are so many vendors to satisfy our taste buds - from sweet, to sour, to salty, to fire hot & spicy.  The day is not complete without live entertainment of classical folk dances and musical performances, loud music that I seem to be mesmerizing to my darling boy.   If we were back in Laos or Thailand, we would get soaked with water from well-wishers.  Instead, we would gather around the head monk to receive some sprinkle blessed water on us.  Now, the kids don't receive red envelops full of money nor do we get to gather at home to feast on food; however,  having the opportunity to spend the day with your family and seeing old friends and making new friends is great too.  

Lastly, the new year which fall on the 1st of January.  Traditionally, we would gather with friends and family the night before to help celebrate the upcoming New Year.  We say good-bye to the past and hope for the best for the future.  This too is great because we get to share with folks who have touched our lives and have such a profound impact on us.  We are reminded of why we are grateful to have them and we are made humbled to be able to spend this day with them.  What I love about this day is to being able to give hugs and kisses to those who undoubtedly have made my life truly complete.