Songkran Festival › What Songkran means
What Songkran means, and how Thais celebrate it
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year. Before the water fights, it is a family and temple festival: people make merit, pour water over Buddha images and ask their elders for a blessing. Here is what the word means, what happens on each day, and what to say. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
In one paragraph
Songkran comes from the Sanskrit samkranti, an astrological passage: the sun moving into Aries, which starts the traditional new year (UNESCO). The public holidays are always 13 to 15 April. Water stands for cleansing, respect and good luck, which is why it is poured over Buddha images, over the hands of elders and, in the streets, over everyone.
The word and the date
Why Songkran is in April
The Thai word สงกรานต์ comes from the Sanskrit samkranti, an astrological passage (The Nation). UNESCO describes it as the sun’s yearly move into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, which marks the new year (UNESCO).
The public holidays are fixed at 13, 14 and 15 April. The astronomical moment, Maha Songkran, moves a little each year. In 2026 it fell on Tuesday 14 April; in 2027 the Thai calendar puts it on Wednesday 14 April (being checked).
Songkran was Thailand’s official New Year until the government moved New Year’s Day to 1 January from 1941 (announcement of 24 December 1940).
A short timeline
1448–1488
Earliest record in Thai law, in the Royal Family Law of King Boromatrailokkanat (Ayutthaya era) (being checked).
1889
King Chulalongkorn fixes the Thai New Year on 1 April (being checked).
1941
New Year’s Day moves to 1 January. Songkran stays as the traditional new year.
1992
Khao San Road becomes Thailand’s first official Songkran street (being checked).
2023
UNESCO adds Songkran to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (6 December).
The three days
Each day has its own name and its own customs. These are the public holidays, the same every year.
13 April
Maha Songkran Day
The day the sun enters Aries in the traditional count. It is also National Elderly Day.
Source: Thairath
14 April
Wan Nao, “the day in between”
Also Family Day. People carry sand to the temple to build small sand chedis, and try to avoid quarrels and harsh words for the day.
Source: Thairath
15 April
Wan Thaloeng Sok
The new year begins. Families make merit, give food to monks and pour scented water over the hands of their elders to ask for a blessing (Rod Nam Dam Hua).
Source: Thairath
What people do
Most customs centre on the temple and the family home.
Rod Nam Dam Hua
Younger people pour scented water over the hands of their elders, ask forgiveness for the past year and receive a blessing.
Source: Thailand Foundation
Bathing Buddha images
Scented water is poured over Buddha images at temples, in public places or at home, for good fortune in the year ahead.
Source: Thailand Foundation
Sand chedis
People carry sand into the temple to build small chedis. It replaces the sand carried out on their feet during the year and helps upkeep.
Source: Thailand Foundation
Making merit
Food is offered to monks in the morning, and the merit is dedicated to relatives who have died.
Source: Thailand Foundation
Why water? UNESCO lists its meanings as cleansing, respect and good fortune: water washes away the bad luck of the old year (UNESCO). How the gentle pouring turned into street-wide water fights is debated; some scholars link it partly to tourism promotion (being checked).
What to say
How to say Happy Songkran
These are the two standard greetings, shown in Thai script and as they sound.
When you pour water over an elder’s hands, the wish is that they stay a shelter for the family, healthy, free from illness and surrounded by children and grandchildren (Thairath).
Two greetings
สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์
suk-san wan Songkran Happy Songkran Day
สวัสดีปีใหม่ไทย
sa-wat-dee pee mai Thai Happy Thai New Year
Source: Thairath. The spellings in Latin letters are ours, written to be read aloud.
Nang Songkran
The Songkran goddess
Each year one of seven sisters, the daughters of Kabil Maha Phrom, is named Nang Songkran. In the legend, he lost a riddle contest and his head; his daughters take turns carrying it each new year (being checked).
Which sister it is depends on the weekday of Maha Songkran day. 2026 was Nang Raksotsa (a Tuesday). For 2027 the Thai calendar puts Maha Songkran on a Wednesday, which by tradition means Nang Mandathewi; the official announcement is not out yet. Songkran 2027 in full.
UNESCO, 2023
World heritage, officially
“Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festival” was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 6 December 2023, at the committee meeting in Botswana (decision 18.COM 8.b.10).
Source: UNESCO.
Playing politely
Bangkok city hall’s Songkran guidance asks people not to do these things (BMA guidance, 2024). The 2026 rules and fines are on the home page.
✕ Use high-pressure water guns
✕ Smear powder on other people
✕ Wear revealing or inappropriate clothing
✕ Drink and drive
✕ Get drunk and cause a scene
✕ Turn speakers up loud
The same new year, next door
Neighbouring countries celebrate their own new year at the same time, many with water. Dates below are for 2026 and are being checked.
Questions people ask
What does Songkran mean?
Songkran comes from the Sanskrit word samkranti, an astrological passage. It refers to the sun moving into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, which marks the start of the traditional Thai new year (UNESCO).
Why do people throw water at Songkran?
Water stands for cleansing, respect and good fortune, and washes away the bad luck of the old year. It is poured gently over Buddha images and over the hands of elders; in the streets it becomes a water fight.
What do you say on Songkran?
Suk-san wan Songkran (สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์) means Happy Songkran Day. Sa-wat-dee pee mai Thai (สวัสดีปีใหม่ไทย) means Happy Thai New Year.
Is Songkran the Thai New Year?
Yes, it is the traditional Thai New Year. Thailand used it as the official new year until 1 January became New Year’s Day in 1941. The public holidays are 13 to 15 April.
Is Songkran on the UNESCO list?
Yes. “Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festival” was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 6 December 2023.
When is Songkran 2027?
The public holidays are Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April 2027. See our Songkran 2027 page for days off, the bridge-day watch and what is still not announced.
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