Lesson 12: Choul Chnam Thmey: Celebrating the Khmer New Year
Welcome, revelers! 🎉🎊
Get ready to immerse yourselves in the vibrant and joyous celebrations of Khmer New Year, known as Choul Chnam Thmey! This is a time for family reunions, cultural traditions, and hopeful beginnings. Let’s explore the customs, share our personal experiences, and practice talking about this special holiday in English.
Khmer New Year Traditions
Choul Chnam Thmey is a three-day celebration packed with traditions and rituals. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important ones:
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Vocabulary:
- Angkunh: A traditional game played with seeds or stones.
- Sand Pagoda: Intricate sand structures built at pagodas.
- Water Festival: A playful tradition where people splash water on each other.
- Nom Ansom Chek: Banana leaf sticky rice cakes, a popular New Year treat.
- Haoma (homa): A fire ritual performed by Brahmin priests to invoke blessings for the new year.
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Traditions Explained:
- Your teacher will share pictures or videos of Khmer New Year traditions.
- Discuss the meaning and significance of each tradition.
- Take notes on interesting details or questions you have.
Your New Year Memories
Everyone has special memories of Khmer New Year. Share yours with a partner!
- Discussion Questions:
- What are your favorite things to do during Khmer New Year?
- What special foods do you eat?
- What are your most cherished memories of past New Year celebrations?
- What are your plans for this year’s Khmer New Year?
- Storytelling:
- Tell your partner a story about a memorable Khmer New Year experience.
- Be sure to use descriptive language and express your feelings.
Let’s Make Plans!
Imagine you’re talking to a friend about your plans for Khmer New Year. Role-play the conversation with your partner, using the following questions and ideas:
- Questions:
- “What are you doing for Khmer New Year?”
- “Are you going anywhere special?”
- “What are you most looking forward to?”
- “Do you have any special traditions with your family?”
- Ideas:
- Visiting family in the countryside
- Going to the pagoda
- Playing traditional games
- Eating special foods
- Watching traditional dances or performances
Remember:
- Speak clearly and use appropriate vocabulary.
- Use expressions like “I’m excited about…” or “I can’t wait to…” to show enthusiasm.
- Ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.
Your Turn!
Now it’s your turn to create your own Khmer New Year experience! What will you do to celebrate this special holiday? How will you share your culture and traditions with others? Share your plans with the class!
