Songkran, the holiday generally referred to as the Thai New Year, is fast approaching. Or is already here. It depends on where you’re at in the Kingdom (as well as Laos, Cambodia, and Burma). To many, it’s all about a countrywide water fight, to others a countrywide wet T-shirt contest, and to those who live their lives on the gay Thailand message boards it’s yet another excuse to bitch, moan, and be disgruntled over the fun everyone else is having.

Unlike most holidays in Thailand which are celebrated on dates fixed by the lunar calendar, the dates for the Songkran celebration were originally dictated by the astrological calendar. Now they are fixed and the party officially runs from the 13th to the 15th every year. But ya know how Thais are about rules. So things start getting wet before the 13th, and in Pattaya – where a good part of the population needs a good hosing down anyway – those into premature ejaculations start things off on the 11th with the town staying pretty wet through the 19th. So if you are one of those who believe there can never be too much Songkran fun, you can join in on the major water battle in Bangkok this weekend, towel off, and then head down to Pattaya to do it all over again later in the week.

Regardless of the dates the holiday is celebrated, it is no coincidence that Songkran festivities coincide with other religions’ springtime observances of renewal; Christians have Easter which the devout celebrate with the anointing of ashes, and washing of feet, Thais smear a white chalky mess over everyone’s face and wash everyone’s feet starting at the head. Thai customs for the holiday also have similarities with the Holi celebrations in India. Though the local honored tradition of participating in a ten hour traffic jam seems to be a Thai only rite of spring.

Since Songkran is the holiday to end all holidays in Thailand, I thought I’d do a series of posts throughout this week covering its history, meaning, and current festivities. But since my knowledge of the holiday was limited to water fights I had to turn to Google for the whys and wherefores. Among the info I found on what the holiday traditionally means to the local populace, and how it is celebrated outside of loading up with buckets full of water, I ran across the first little nugget of info that I’ll share with you.

Chiang Mai seems to be the place where traditions meet current practices the best when it comes to Songkran. It’s not all just one big water fight, though you’ll get just as soaked up north as you will in Bangkok. A more rural and heavily agricultural area than Thailand’s capital city, rain plays an important part in Chiang Mai life, and one of the things Songkran heralds is the coming of the rainy season. So a good deal of the merit making and prayers are for ensuring Mother Nature sees to the irrigation farmers need. You can pray to Buddha for rain, but according to Chiang Mai historian Ajarn Kraisi Nimmanahaeminda you can also hedge your bets during Songkran by drowning a cat as a surefire method of getting the downpour you need. It’s probably almost as much fun a soaking a grumpy old sexpat in Pattaya.

So, we’re off to a good start, stay tuned for more Songkran posts, which I’ll celebrate in my usual manner by posting plenty of photos of hot naked Asian guys. That should help ensure your Songkran festivities keep you wet even if you are not in Thailand.

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