Khmer New Year and the Passion Week

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As the new week unfolds, our family eagerly anticipates two significant celebrations: Khmer New Year and the Passion Week. It’s a rare moment when these two events align, and this year, we are especially mindful of how we can embrace both. As followers of Christ, we hold the death and resurrection of Jesus at the center of our faith. Yet, as a family living in Cambodia, we also seek to honor and connect with our loved ones who celebrate Khmer New Year, a time deeply embedded in their cultural and religious traditions.

This year, as we travel to my husband's hometown in Kampong Cham province, our hearts are drawn to Colossians 3:12:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

Colossians 3:12
These words serve as a guiding light for us, especially as we step into an environment where Buddhist traditions run deep. How do we celebrate with our family while remaining intentional in our faith? How do we extend Christ’s love, not just in words, but in action?

Understanding Khmer New Year and Its Cultural Significance

Khmer New Year, known as Choul Chnam Thmey in Khmer, is Cambodia’s most anticipated holiday, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the traditional solar year. The festival lasts for three days, each carrying its own meaning:

  1. Moha Sangkran (Day One): The welcoming of the new heavenly angel (Tevada), symbolizing renewal. Families clean their homes and prepare offerings at Buddhist temples.

  2. Veareak Vanabat (Day Two): A day of charitable giving, where people visit pagodas, offer alms to monks, and honor their ancestors.

  3. Veareak Laeung Sak (Day Three): A day of blessings, where people participate in cleansing rituals, wash Buddha statues, and seek forgiveness from elders.

For many Cambodians, it is a time of spiritual reflection, cultural pride, and family reunions. For us as believers, it is an opportunity to be a living testimony of Christ’s love.

Clothing Ourselves with Christ’s Virtues in Family Gatherings

As we join my husband's side of the family, we are reminded that love is best shown in action, not in argument. Khmer New Year is a time when conversations about faith can arise naturally, and we have learned that the best way to share Jesus is by embodying His virtues:

  • Compassion: Understanding that faith is deeply personal. We do not push conversations but instead listen, love, and pray for open hearts.

  • Kindness: Engaging in traditions with sincerity—helping cook festive meals, playing traditional games, and spending quality time with relatives.

  • Humility: Respecting cultural practices, while still making space for faith-based conversations when opportunities arise.

  • Gentleness: When asked about our beliefs, we respond with grace, avoiding debates but offering testimonies of how Jesus has transformed our lives.

  • Patience: Trusting God’s timing, knowing that hearts are softened by the Holy Spirit, not by our efforts alone.

A Reflection on the Passion Week

As the Khmer New Year celebrations unfold, we also walk through the events of Passion Week:

  • Palm Sunday: Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. A reminder that true victory is in humility, not power.

  • Maundy Thursday: Jesus’ last supper, where He modeled servant leadership.

  • Good Friday: His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, a demonstration of unparalleled love.

  • Easter Sunday: The resurrection, the foundation of our faith and hope.

Celebrating Khmer New Year during Passion Week gives us the opportunity to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection while we are with family. Just as Jesus came to serve, we approach our time in Kampong Cham with a heart of service—helping prepare food, taking care of the elderly, and being fully present.

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I have been doing a love project on creating my structured "quiet time" by making a personal journal (Devotional). By God's grace, I will be following a 7-day prayer journal for the Passion week. I'm happy to share it with you. Head over to this link 👉7-day prayer journal to get your own copy on canva. It is totally FREE! Feel free to share with your friends and loved ones 😍🙏. 

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Five Interesting Facts About Khmer New Year

  1. A Different Angel Every Year: Each Khmer New Year, a new angel (Tevada) is believed to descend to earth, influencing the characteristics of the year ahead.

  2. The Role of Water: Water is symbolic of cleansing and blessings. This is similar to how Jesus washes away our sins and makes us new.

  3. Traditional Games: Festivities include games like Chol Chhoung (a throwing game) and Bos Angkunh (played with large nuts), emphasizing community and joy. 

  4. Building Sand Mounds: In temples, people construct small sand mountains representing Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Buddhist belief.

  5. Kralan, a Holiday Treat: Sticky rice mixed with beans and coconut milk, packed in bamboo, is a Khmer New Year delicacy enjoyed by families. 

    Sticky rice mixed with beans and coconut milk, packed in bamboo

    My In-laws making Kralan

Ending with a Prayer 

As we celebrate Khmer New Year with family, we also meditate on the sacrifice and victory of Jesus Christ. May our actions reflect His love, and may our interactions plant seeds of faith. We invite you to pray with us:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to celebrate culture and faith together. Help us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience as we share Your love with our family. May our presence be a reflection of Christ’s light, and may our words and actions lead others closer to You. We trust in Your perfect timing and plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As you embrace the celebrations around you, whether Khmer New Year or another cultural festival, may you do so with intentionality and love. Let this be a time of relationship-building, reflection, and faith-sharing in ways that honor both God and the people around you.

If you’re traveling to Cambodia for Khmer New Year, we encourage you to visit Kampong Cham and experience its beauty, traditions, and hospitality firsthand. And wherever you are, may you be a living testimony of Christ’s love, not just in words, but in how you celebrate and connect with others.

👉 Get your FREE Devotional (7-day prayer journal for the Passion week)

Happy Khmer New Year and a blessed Passion Week!

The Hourngs 💕😍

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