The evolution of Thailand's New Year celebration

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Transcript

00:00If we were living a hundred years ago, we wouldn't celebrate New Year this early.

00:04This is because in the past, Thailand celebrated New Year on April 1st.

00:08The date was chosen as it marked the first day of the waning moon in the Thai lunar calendar.

00:13According to this calendar, Thai selected the first day of the fourth month as their New Year.

00:18One theory suggests that Thai lunar calendar started around this time because it marked

00:22the end of winter and start of the new season.

00:26Another theory proposed that the public also recognized Songkran which begins on April 13th

00:30as New Year as this tradition has been observed for centuries.

00:34In 1934, the government officially designated January 1st as New Year to align with other

00:40countries. Since then, the first day of January has become an important occasion for Thai people.