Happy Songkran 2013!

-
Songkran is the annual celebration of New Year in Thailand. Meaning 'astrological passage'. It is the time of the year when traditions reign supreme in Thailand, with many Thai people taking part in the festivities. Celebrated from the 13th to the 16th of April annually, celebrations include travelling back to their home towns to celebrate with elders and the more hands on activity of taking part in the water fights around the streets Thailand! The most famous area of Thailand to celebrate the new year is the largest  and most cultural Northern City, Chiang Mai. Hosting many festivals throughout the calender year, Chiang Mai is renowned for being one of the most popular locations of celebration in the country. Lasting up to 6 days in Chiang Mai, it's no wonder that natives and tourists alike travel to the region to take part in the massive water fight that takes place. The traditional greeting is "สวัสดีปีใหม่" (sawatdi pi mai) which basically translates to "Happy New Year" but you will also find people use "สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์" (suk san wan songkran) which means "Happy Songkran Day"  because 'pi mai' is more often linked with the 1st of January rather than the Thai New Year itself!


Another factor which rates highly in any culture's New Year celebrations across the globe is FOOD. As you know, on the Gandey World Class Productions blog we love to talk about food, so looking at recipes which are made during Songkran has our mouths watering! The BBC website is a treasure trove for Thai recipes to whip up at home right now, so check it out and give some a go.... We highly recommend the 'Slow Cooker Massaman Curry'. Massaman is a delicious peanut and potato based dish, which is hearty and moreish, and is an excellent alternative to a stew in the UK right now during this shockingly cold spell of weather we are having. And to make it feel that little bit more tropical you can wash it down with a 'Thai Smash' cocktail, ooossh! We don't think there'll be any water fights here in the UK for the Ladyboys of Bangkok though, the last thing we want is for one of our stars to catch a cold when they have so many shows planned for the Glamorous Amorous tour!

Location: Thailand

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for your feedback!

Popular posts from this blog

A brief history of clowns to celebrate Andreea's birthday!

-
Image
Hip hip hooray! It’s our crazy clown Andreea’s birthday! The lovable Andreea has been appearing in shows with Gandeys Circus for nearly a decade. Now Andreea is actually French – so perhaps we should say ‘bon anniversaire’! We’re proud to have Andreea as part of our current team in the big top at Butlin’s Skegness . While our other clowns – currently performing at Butlin’s Bognor Regis and Minehead – Bippo and Chico Rico are more traditional, Andreea opts to show off her sense of style with an offbeat modern look. We think her pink tutu / Converse / blazer combo is pretty iconic… especially paired with her blasting boombox! (she’s never been shy of making an entrance). Andreea likes interrupting the action with her silly routines. And you know something else… she is the UK’s only female clown! So you could say she’s a bit of an innovator when it comes to clowning around. With that in mind, let’s look at how much clowns have changed ov
Read more

When The Lady Boys of Bangkok Met.... Geordie Shore!

-
Image
Fans of the hit TV show Geordie Shore will be pleased to see the return of their favourite stars of the North tonight, for yet another series! It's the 5th time on the small screen for the 'toon army'  this time showcasing fun and frolics on their stag and hen adventures. Travelling across Europe to the best of the continents Stag and Hen destinations.... From Amsterdam to Tignes, the series follows the stars along the way! It's guaranteed to have you laughing, cringing and possibly having a little bit of a cry throughout. Enough of the new series though, remember that time when the stars of Geordie Shore met our Lady Boys of Bangkok . ....? Cheeky  James Tindale  didn't seem to know what to do with himself when the beautiful Lady Boys of Bangkok rolled in to town!  Well, until the Lady Boys took to the stage and of course, then  James wasn't one to let other's take the limelight..... Switswoo we say! If you missed the Lady Boys of Bangkok
Read more

Origins of the Chinese Circus

-
Image
200 BC – 200 AD – Han Dynasty, Sichuan Province – Juggler with balls and knives – Carving, stone of the “Hundred Games.” [source: Chinese Acrobatics Through The Ages, p15] The origins of the Chinese circus are not entirely crystal clear. There are debates and differing opinions when it comes to the exact history behind the circus, which is not a surprise when you take into account how long it has been around! First records of the Chinese circus - including carvings and mural paintings - date back more than 2,000 years to the Warring States period (475–221 BC), with evidence of performances developing further during the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC - 230 AD). Although it is believed that the art may have actually started around 3,000 years ago! One theory is that the acts originated in imperial courts, with performers entertaining the houses in a manner similar to western court jesters. However, it is more likely that the circus was a folk art that was later adopted by
Read more