Songkran Festival

Thailand

Songkran (สงกรานต์) is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from April 13 to 15.

Traditionally, Songkran Festival is an occasion for family reunions, temple visits and annual house cleaning.

During Songkran Festival, the water pouring symbolises washing away all sins and the bad.

Thais perform the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual on the first day of Songkran, which is the National Elderly Day.

During the ritual, young people would pour fragrant water into the elders’ palms as a gesture of humility and to ask for their blessings.

The second day of Songkran is the National Family Day.

Families would wake up early and give alms to the monks.

An important religious ritual on Songkran is ‘Bathing the Buddha’.

Devout Buddhists pour fragrant water over Buddha statues both at the temple and at home.

While having fun splashing water, take note of the do's and don'ts during Songkran Festival.

Do’s

Do wish the locals a Happy New Year in Thai “Sawadee Pee Mai”
Do give alms and make merit
Do smile when someone douse you

Don’ts

Don't douse monks, babies and elderly
Don't throw dirty water
Don't curse when being doused

P/S: Remember to use waterproof bags to protect your valuables or leave them in the hotel.

兴化话

China - Putian

中国 － 莆田

兴化（即原莆田、仙游两县，古称兴化府），属福建省管辖。

福建省境内的方言不仅品种多，而且内部差异很大。

有的一个县内，就有几种，甚至十几种互不相通的方言。

福建方言大致可以分为闽语、客家话、赣（gan第四声）语三大类。

客家话主要分布于龙岩、漳州等地。

赣语主要分布于建宁、泰宁等地。

闽语使用人数多、地域广，又可以分为五次类：

1）以福州话为代表的闽东方言

2）以厦门话为代表的闽南方言

3）以莆田话为代表的莆仙方言

4）以永安话为代表的闽中方言

5）以建瓯话为代表的闽北方言

莆仙方言（即兴化话）是福建历史悠久、且独别于其他方言的一种方言。

地理位置上，通常相邻的乡镇居民，一般都会讲对方的方言。

莆田与福清接壤，但在莆田境内，没有以福清话为生活语言的乡村民众。

相反的，在福清境内，却有渔溪镇的东际、江山，东张镇的芦岭、金芝，镜洋乡的后溪、善山，以及音西镇的云中等部分村落，有数万人是以莆仙话（兴化话）为生活交际语言的。

甚至远至闽东地区的霞浦县的大屿乡、福安市的下白石乡、福鼎市的沙埕镇等地的部分村落居民，至今也仍以莆仙（即兴化）方言为日常生活交际语。

由此可见，兴化话之影响力有多深远。