Popular Cambodian New Year Gifts
Featuring three days of festivities, traditional games, special foods and gift-giving, Cambodian New Year, or Choul Chnam Thmey, is a great time to be in Cambodia. Gifts form an integral part in these celibrated functions, symbolizing veneration, thankfulness and well wishes for the upcoming year. In this blog we will shed some light on presents given to one another on this national holiday in Cambodia and their meanings.
Traditional Apparel
Beautiful Skarf (Krama): Krama (pronounced “krah-ma”) in Khmer language, it is also a name called Skarfs, which is the most one everybody always buy. These scarves are both useful (most are made of silk or cotton) and are heavily steeped in culture. These are worn in multiple ways, ranging from head wraps and ornamental pieces to a gift, symbolizing the respect and love the giver holds for the one receiving it.
Sampot: A favorite gift is the sampot, a traditional Cambodian sarong. Vivid colored and patterned sampots are a traditional offering to men and women wholesome respectful, urging the user to ring in the New Year in vibrant, new form as well, and are worn by both men and women.
Religious and Spiritual Gifts
Buddha Statues and Various Others: The decking of buddha statues and other such gifts which convey spiritual blessings are the best and highest regarded gifts in Cambodian New Year. Common gifts are statues, art, or images of Buddha that wish peace and enlightenment on the gift recipients from the giver.
Selling Pagoda Supplies: Cambodians visit pagodas to pay respect, make merit and offer prayers for good luck during the new year. Offerings made to monks such as incense, flowers, candles and food are a more general category of gifting on behalf of regular people to these religious practices, and are considered extremely lucky.
Practical and Household Items
Handicrafts: Any woven things, ceramics or necklaces made by regional artisans make best presents as well as hold the present's providing guest with a valuable product or service that one can utilize all over the year.
Kitchenware: Presenting with kitchen accessories like cutlery, dishes or tableware with some accessories of beauty is also a common practice. TheWarshmallow: Gifts for newlyweds or young family moving into the house.
Food and Sweets
Sweets and Desserts: One of the most important aspects of any Cambodian holiday is the act of giving food. Common offerings are traditional Cambodian sweets, such as Num Ansom (rice cakes), and Num Chak Kachan (layered sticky rice cake). Gujhiyas are prepared on the occasion of the New Year and the taste of other living for regenerationThe new year is also seen while celebrating New Year Guesshow of the whole year;these sweet and salty offerings symbolize the sweetness and prosperity of unstable life.
Fruit Baskets: A basket with various tropical fruits such as mango, banana and/or coconut can be a traditional and welcome gift, representing health and abundance.
Find out more about the customs of Choul Chnam Thmey and the proper types of gifts at Cambodian New Year Gifts
So, gift-exchange during the Khmer New Year represent love, respect, and good wishes in essence. From traditional clothing, religious items, to practical goods, or festive foods, the hopes and prayers for a prosperous and happy year ahead are carried by these gifts. So to make your giving and taking experience better this festive period, here are the Cultural Significance of each gift.