Songkran
Songkran (สงกรานต์), Thailand's traditional New Year in mid-April, is best known abroad as the world's biggest water fight — days of streets turned into public soak zones — but the holiday itself is rooted in quieter customs: pouring scented water over the hands of parents and elders to ask for their blessing, visiting temples, and cleaning the home to start the year fresh. For a foreigner in a relationship with a Thai partner, Songkran is often the first big family holiday experienced together, and the water fight and the blessing ritual usually happen on the same trip: a chaotic, soaked afternoon in town followed by a quiet, formal moment at a grandparent's house.
Frequently asked questions
Is Songkran just a water fight?
That's the part most visible from outside Thailand, but the holiday is rooted in quieter traditions too — pouring water over elders' hands to ask for their blessing, visiting temples, and cleaning the home for the new year.
When is Songkran?
Mid-April, marking the traditional Thai New Year. The public water-throwing typically runs for several days around April 13-15, alongside the family and temple traditions.
Stories related to Songkran
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