Cambodian Ancestors’ Day – all the facts!
Cambodia respectful on Ancestors DayCambodia Ancestor’s Day: September 24,2009
Ancestor’s Day is a Religious Holiday celebrated in Cambodia
In Cambodia, tributes for older people extends further than holding a door open for old ladies In Cambodia, even the dead are given their own day, which is called Ancestor’s Day. The other popular name for this festival is Spirits Day, although it can also be called the Festival of the dead. This festival is held according to a certain time during the Khmer calendar. Supposedly on this day, the spirits of the dead come to roam the Earth once again, and are given food and drink to ease their passage. The Cambodians will celebrate this year on 24th September.
Understanding the history of Dead Spirits Day
According to the most popular faith in Cambodia – Buddhism – what action we take in this life will determine what kind of life we’ll have in the next.Minor infractions would be punished with small punishments, such as being an unattractive ghost or having a small mouth.With a small mouth, it is hard to eat. If a larger sin is committed, then a worse punishment will ensue, such as having no mouth at all.
During this time, the King Of Hell relases all spirits to roam the world. Those are the one that cannot get into heaven or to be re-incarnated.These spirits are very afraid of light. The spirits are also pretty ugly, having suffered terribly in a state of pergatory.
The spirits then spend the next two weeks searching from place to place looking for food.They can only receive what is sent to them as sharing is not a habit among them.If they cannot find any offerings, these spirits will cast a spell or curse their relatives. The curse could result in bad luck for a whole year, or worse! It’s incentive enough to make most Cambodian families leave some kind of offering for their deceased loved ones.
Traditions and customs
The Cambodians celebrate this festival in a unique and original fashion.{ It is a 15 day long event.| The whole event lasts over two weeks.| The festival actually lasts a total of fifteen days.The first 14 days of the festival is called Dak Ben. During this time, a Pagoda will be divided into fourteen separate areas or groups.Each group is responsible for one day celebration of the event according to the timetable issued by the pagoda. Crossing from one group to another is permissable under the system. Those responsible on the day will bring sticky rice and coconut milk as an offering for the spirits.The last day Pchum Ben is the most auspicious day of the event where everyone celebrates, meets and has fun.
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