前言: Dear 姵瑱小妹妹 這篇文已經過期很久 原本想收起來不放

可是已經答應妳 所以還是放上來 其它的朋友就請多多包含 ^__^

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
小朋友 今天我想向你們介紹一種節日叫 “ 潑水節。”

潑水節最早起源於印度，它原本是婆羅門教的一種宗教儀式。

後來因為佛教關係傳入泰國，再傳入緬甸，再傳入中國雲南

傣族地區。潑水節在泰國的名字叫「宋干節」

(The Songkran Festival），早年東南亞居民相信，太陽轉入

黃道星座中第一宮(牡羊宮)的那天，代表新一年開始。

太陽入牡羊宮應該是三月底，將節日訂在四月中應該是計算錯誤

所致，但此節日流傳已久，人們都無意推翻舊的習俗，就將錯就錯至今了。

現在泰國人在每年四月十三日至十五日過新年，通常以相互「潑水」來慶祝，

所以又叫作 ”潑水節 。”除了泰國之外，緬甸、寮國和柬埔寨

也都會同時慶祝這個節日。

整個潑水節的活動內容與形式跟中國的新年活動類似，

年前先清掃家中內外環境，家中的舊衣物或舊東西都要

放火焚毀，因為根據傳統，若不將舊東西或無用的物品丟掉

會帶來壞運氣。十三日當天下午會清洗佛像，祈求神明洗淨

過去一年的不順與惡運，重新帶來祝福與幸運；年輕晚輩

要把芳香的水倒在長輩和父母手中，代表對父母長輩的尊敬；

另外，全家人不分男女老幼都會穿著新衣裳，帶著食物

、供品到寺廟中供奉僧侶，同時也會帶祖先的骨灰罈前往寺廟裡

舉行祭拜儀式祈福，有些人則會到市場買小鳥和活魚放生，以積功德。

互相潑水則是趣味的成分居多，潑水節期間，大街小巷中不管

熟人或生人，所有人都忙著潑水互道恭喜及祝福。幾乎每個人

都自備有小水桶，甚至拿出水管直接以水柱潑灑，熱鬧的活動

幾乎已達舉國瘋狂的程度，大家趁此機會盡情歡笑，在炎熱

天氣中，真是最棒的消暑活動。這時期去泰國遊玩若被潑得

全身溼淋淋，可千萬別生氣， 那是泰國人特別的祝福喔！

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year Festival

which starts on April 13 every year.

In ancient times, it was celebrated as a moveable feast,

and set to occur as the sun moved into the Aries portion

of the zodiac. In modern times the date has been fixed as April 13.

The festival lasts for 4 days. Maha Songkran Day is the first day of

the celebrations which marks the end of the old year.

April 14, Wan Nao is the day between the ending of the old year

and the beginning of the new year when foods are prepared

for the temples. The third day of Songkran, April 15,

is Wan Thaloeng Sok - the day on which the New Year begins

and on the last day, Wan Parg-bpee, the ancestors and elders

are honored.

In Thailand, small birds may also be released from cages

as part of the festivities. Although many add colored powders

and scents to the water in Thai New Year celebrations in

playful ”water wars.”

The tradition traces back to the pre-Buddist rituals

of spring festivals where the throwing of water was meant

as a symbol of luck to bring good rain for the crops.

It was later converted to the religious custom of cleansing the

statues of Buddha once a year. In many places there are parades

with the statues of Buddha and as the parades pass, crowds shower

the Buddha with water.

Pouring small amounts of scented lustral water on the heads

of the elders on Wan Parg-bpee as a sign of respect is also

part of this custom.


Extension Activity: Ping-Pong & Water

待補照片 & 續文