Kru learns: How to explain Songkran to international students — and why it matters beyond just water fights.
Sora learns: The language of Songkran — what people say, what they do, and what it really means.
Songkran (13–15 April) is the traditional Thai New Year, marking the sun's passage into Aries. Water is a symbol of cleansing and good fortune — washing away the old year. The elder blessing ceremony (รดน้ำดำหัว) is the heart of it. The water fights came later.
| English | ภาษาไทย | Romanized | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Songkran festival | เทศกาลสงกรานต์ | thêet-sà-gaan sǒng-graan | Thai New Year water festival |
| Water blessing ceremony | รดน้ำดำหัว | rót nám dam hǔa | Pouring water on elders for blessings |
| To pour / splash water | สาดน้ำ | sàat nám | สาด = to splash/throw |
| To play Songkran | เล่นสงกรานต์ | lên sǒng-graan | เล่น = to play |
| Temple | วัด | wát | Always visited during Songkran |
| Sand pagoda | ก่อพระเจดีย์ทราย | gàw phrá jà-dii saai | Built at temples during Songkran |
| Scented water | น้ำอบ | nám òp | Perfumed water used in blessing ceremony |
| New Year gift | ของขวัญปีใหม่ | khǎawng-khwǎn bpii-mài | Given to elders |
Sora: ขอพร (khǎaw phoon) = ask for a blessing.
Kru learns: How to describe the magic of Loy Krathong to someone who has never seen it.
Sora learns: The language of this beautiful festival — water, light, wishes, and letting go.
On the full moon of the 12th lunar month (usually November), Thais float small decorated baskets (กระทง) on water — releasing bad luck, paying respect to the water goddess, and making wishes. Sky lanterns (โคมลอย) are released at the same time in Chiang Mai, where it becomes Yi Peng festival.
| English | ภาษาไทย | Romanized | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Krathong festival | เทศกาลลอยกระทง | thêet-sà-gaan loi grà-thong | ลอย = to float |
| Krathong (floating basket) | กระทง | grà-thong | Made of banana leaves, flowers, candles |
| To float / release | ลอย | loi | ลอยกระทง = to float the krathong |
| Sky lantern | โคมลอย | khoom loi | Release in Chiang Mai (Yi Peng) |
| To make a wish | อธิษฐาน | à-thít-thǎan | Said while floating the krathong |
| Full moon | พระจันทร์เต็มดวง | phrá-jan tem duang | The night of the festival |
| River / body of water | แม่น้ำ / แหล่งน้ำ | mâae-nám / làaeng nám | Where krathong are released |
| Yi Peng (Chiang Mai) | เทศกาลยี่เป็ง | thêet-sà-gaan yîi-bpeng | Northern Thai sky lantern festival |
Kru learns: The difference between Thai New Year (Songkran, April) and the calendar New Year (January 1st) — and how to talk about both.
Sora learns: New Year greetings and celebration phrases in Thai.
| Occasion | ภาษาไทย | Romanized | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai New Year (Songkran) | ปีใหม่ไทย / สงกรานต์ | bpii-mài thai / sǒng-graan | 13–15 April |
| International New Year | ปีใหม่สากล | bpii-mài sǎa-gon | 1 January |
| Chinese New Year | ตรุษจีน | trùt-jiin | Widely celebrated in Thailand |
| Happy New Year! | สวัสดีปีใหม่! | sà-wàt-dii bpii-mài! | The standard greeting |
| Wishing you happiness | ขอให้มีความสุข | khǎaw hâi mii khwaam-sùk | Common new year wish |
| Wishing you good health | ขอให้มีสุขภาพแข็งแรง | khǎaw hâi mii sùk-khà-phâap khǎeng-raeng | — |
| Counting down | นับถอยหลัง | náp thǎwy lǎng | Countdown to midnight |
| Fireworks | 花火 / พลุ | phá-lú | — |
Kru learns: The Thai festival calendar — so you can explain to students why training camps are quiet, or why everyone disappears for a week.
Sora learns: The Thai year through its celebrations.
| Festival | ภาษาไทย | Month | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | วันปีใหม่ | January | wan bpii-mài — International calendar |
| Chinese New Year | ตรุษจีน | Jan–Feb | trùt-jiin — Big in Bangkok's Chinatown |
| Makha Bucha | วันมาฆบูชา | Feb–Mar | wan maa-khà-buu-chaa — Buddhist holy day |
| Songkran | สงกรานต์ | April | sǒng-graan — Thai New Year water festival |
| Visakha Bucha | วันวิสาขบูชา | May–Jun | wan wí-sǎa-khà-buu-chaa — Buddha's birth/enlightenment/death |
| Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) | เข้าพรรษา | July | khâo phan-sǎa — Monks stay in temples for 3 months |
| Ok Phansa (End of Lent) | ออกพรรษา | October | àawk phan-sǎa — Boat racing festivals |
| Loy Krathong / Yi Peng | ลอยกระทง / ยี่เป็ง | November | loi grà-thong / yîi-bpeng — Floating lights |
| King's Birthday | วันชาติ | December | wan châat — National holiday with celebrations |
On Buddhist holy days (วันพระ / wan phrá), alcohol sales are banned in Thailand. These include Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asanha Bucha, and Khao/Ok Phansa. Good to know before planning a night out!
Kru learns: How to give and receive wishes and greetings for Thai occasions in English.
Sora learns: The ขอให้ (khǎaw hâi) pattern — the key to blessing someone in Thai.
ขอให้ (khǎaw hâi) = "May you have..." / "I wish you..." — this is how you bless someone in Thai. ขอให้ + what you wish for. It's used for festivals, birthdays, New Year, before fights — any occasion.
| English wish | ภาษาไทย | Romanized |
|---|---|---|
| May you have happiness | ขอให้มีความสุข | khǎaw hâi mii khwaam-sùk |
| May you have good health | ขอให้มีสุขภาพแข็งแรง | khǎaw hâi mii sùk-khà-phâap khǎeng-raeng |
| May you have good luck | ขอให้โชคดี | khǎaw hâi chôok dii |
| May all your wishes come true | ขอให้สมหวังทุกอย่าง | khǎaw hâi sǒm-wǎng thúk yàang |
| May you succeed in everything | ขอให้ประสบความสำเร็จ | khǎaw hâi bprà-sòp khwaam-sǎm-rèt |
| May you win! | ขอให้ชนะ! | khǎaw hâi chá-ná! |
| May you be safe | ขอให้ปลอดภัย | khǎaw hâi bplàawt-phai |