Hooray! Happy Thai New Year

12 April 2026

By Pastor Nun Saicholkhongsuk - Thai Congregation Pastor

The Thai New Year, or the Songkran Festival, is celebrated annually from 13–15 April. It is a season of new beginnings, forgiveness, reconciliation, blessings, and the expression of love and respect toward elders and family members. Water, in particular, serves as a meaningful symbol of cleansing and renewal.

In Thai culture, this season is often marked by traveling back home to visit family, gathering with relatives, and participating in the traditional water-pouring ceremony to seek forgiveness and receive blessings from elders. It is also a time for cleaning homes and renewing one’s surroundings. These practices reflect the heart of “new beginnings” and the “restoration of relationships” within families and communities.

Leviticus 19:32(NIV) says,

“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”

This Scripture reminds us that honoring our elders is not merely a cultural tradition, but it is also the will of God.

For Christians, Songkran is therefore more than a time of festive celebration. It is an opportunity for us to:

• Give thanks to God for the past year

• Begin anew with a pure heart

• Restore relationships with family and others

• Demonstrate love, respect, and honour toward elders in accordance with God’s Word

Therefore, Songkran for us is a time of “new beginnings in God.” It is not merely the turning of the year, but a time to allow God to renew our hearts, so that we may live with love, respect, and reverence toward Him, as well as toward our parents, elders, and all those around us.

May God bless you.