By Ashleigh Oldland
Staff Writer
Uptown Gazettes (Long Beach, California, USA)
April marks the beginning of a new year for Cambodians. The angel Mondar Tevy, who wears a flower behind her ear and cat’s eye gemstones around her neck, is said to ride her donkey down to earth and bless the coming year.
In celebration of the 2010 Cambodian New Year, the nonprofit Cambodian Coordinating Council (Cam-CC) is hosting two events, a parade on Sunday, April 4, and a party on Saturday, April 10.
Dan Durke, event coordinator and spokesman for Cam-CC, said the sixth annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street from Junipero Avenue to MacArthur Park, will feature between 70 and 100 parade entries. Marking the beginning of the Year of the Tiger, the procession starts at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Junipero and Anaheim.
Thousands of residents and visitors are expected to come together for the parade, filling the Cambodia Town street with unique and colorful floats, musicians and traditional and modern Cambodian dancers, Durke said.
Officially taking place from April 14 to 16, the Cambodian New Year is one of the biggest celebrated holidays for Cambodians, Durke said.
“It is the Buddhist new year, but also, our people finish harvesting at this time of year, so we celebrate that,” he explained.
On Saturday, April 10, the 2010 Cambodian New Year Celebration will take place at El Dorado Park Regional Park in Area III (enter from Spring Street between Studebaker and the 605 Freeway) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Religious ceremonies, exotic food, traditional games, face painting and live performances will be a part of the public event.
Admission to the celebration is $40 per vehicle, which includes the $7 park entry fee. Discounted tickets may be purchased in advance at participating locations — visit www.cam-cc.org for a list of vendors.
Durke said the parade and celebration are especially significant in Long Beach because the city has the highest population of Cambodians living outside of Cambodia.
“This is a place for family and friends to gather and reunite,” he said. “A lot of us have been dispersed in the area. This allows us to find each other.”
The population of Cambodians in Long Beach is largely due to Cambodian refugees settling in the area, a precedent set in the 1960s when the first Cambodian student in the United States came to Long Beach to learn English, Durke said.
The event coordinator also said two events are something anyone can enjoy — even those who are not Cambodian.
“We have a little bit of everything for people to do,” he said. “We would like to invite everyone to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.”
With the message, “Suor Sdey Chhnam Thmey,” Cam-CC officials said they wish the Long Beach community a happy Cambodian New Year.
Applications for parade entries or booths for either event are being accepted now.
For more information, visit www.cam-cc.org.
In celebration of the 2010 Cambodian New Year, the nonprofit Cambodian Coordinating Council (Cam-CC) is hosting two events, a parade on Sunday, April 4, and a party on Saturday, April 10.
Dan Durke, event coordinator and spokesman for Cam-CC, said the sixth annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street from Junipero Avenue to MacArthur Park, will feature between 70 and 100 parade entries. Marking the beginning of the Year of the Tiger, the procession starts at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Junipero and Anaheim.
Thousands of residents and visitors are expected to come together for the parade, filling the Cambodia Town street with unique and colorful floats, musicians and traditional and modern Cambodian dancers, Durke said.
Officially taking place from April 14 to 16, the Cambodian New Year is one of the biggest celebrated holidays for Cambodians, Durke said.
“It is the Buddhist new year, but also, our people finish harvesting at this time of year, so we celebrate that,” he explained.
On Saturday, April 10, the 2010 Cambodian New Year Celebration will take place at El Dorado Park Regional Park in Area III (enter from Spring Street between Studebaker and the 605 Freeway) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Religious ceremonies, exotic food, traditional games, face painting and live performances will be a part of the public event.
Admission to the celebration is $40 per vehicle, which includes the $7 park entry fee. Discounted tickets may be purchased in advance at participating locations — visit www.cam-cc.org for a list of vendors.
Durke said the parade and celebration are especially significant in Long Beach because the city has the highest population of Cambodians living outside of Cambodia.
“This is a place for family and friends to gather and reunite,” he said. “A lot of us have been dispersed in the area. This allows us to find each other.”
The population of Cambodians in Long Beach is largely due to Cambodian refugees settling in the area, a precedent set in the 1960s when the first Cambodian student in the United States came to Long Beach to learn English, Durke said.
The event coordinator also said two events are something anyone can enjoy — even those who are not Cambodian.
“We have a little bit of everything for people to do,” he said. “We would like to invite everyone to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.”
With the message, “Suor Sdey Chhnam Thmey,” Cam-CC officials said they wish the Long Beach community a happy Cambodian New Year.
Applications for parade entries or booths for either event are being accepted now.
For more information, visit www.cam-cc.org.
15 comments:
I thought in Long Beach California is alots of Khmer population. Why don't we build one big Khmer Temple? Instead we're renting the Park it wasted alots of maney every year.
W are getting better, but what is it about party and Saturday? Is it because we never have a happy hour? Why can we celebrate our new year on what everyday that falls on? Why Saturday have to be everyone's new year?
2:32pm,
Even Angkor Wat itself cannot accomodate over 10,000 people at one time. Parking itself will take much of the space. Where do u find a place that big in Long Beach? U gotta go out of the city, in the desert area to find a place this big. Let's be realistic.
And 7:00pm,
If the New Year falls on any other days beside the weekend, there will not be alot of people joining the festival. As Khmer New year is not a national holiday in the U.S.
to 8:56pm,
I thought, we all celebrate our new year from our hearts and regardless whatever day, it falls on. Everyone should make every effort to be there for our ancestors and for the day that God of the new year is arriving. Now the day that he or she comes, no one there! It seems that everyone is setting up our new year's day according to whatever day that is convenience for them or to hell with everyone else that are trying to work around it. It's just really sad. In Philadelphia alone has a few CNY by itself. One is in April 10th and one is In April 17th or April 18th. It's just f* annoying. All because we are starving for the weekend? I want to go to park or garden in America on weekend. Spring is coming and it's more to life then trying to go to a NY on a wrong day, just because it's falls on weekend. It just isn't ours. Actually, since most jobs involve flexibility, everyone works regardless of what day and it's easier to request a day off on weekday then weekend. This is our day and the entire population should scelebrate our NY on a correct day. Who need them if they are non Bhuddist anyway? You kill the spirit of a real Khmer's New Year. Now everyone is so confused and that's so stupid. Please those who are coordinating this special day, do it right and do it starting April 13th and end April 16th.
Now there is long beach. One is what April 4th? and then April 10th? and some place else, let's do it on March 27th. Yah! that Saturday, i'm free! Let me get your f*cking fool to come to my NY's party.
Just like The Khmer Rouge was taking Cambodia on April 17th. That's their new year and it's the end for everyone else or welcome to hell.
When Saturday or Sunday becomes a New Year, there is no real expectation or true value of the sacred day anymore.
Ordinary Khmer
9:13pm,
If u want to celebrate the New Year on the exact day, then u should go to the temples. There are many temples in Long Beach where lots of people go as well... mostly elderly....or people who truly believe that "God" arrives on certain day and time. To be honest with you, most youngsters don't give shit about the religious stuff. They just want to go out there to meet their friends and have fun. That's what the NY is really all about. It doesn't really matter what day it falls on as long as it's convenient for everyone. They could care less if it falls on the beginning of March or End of April.
Regarding the work days, i don't know what you're talking about. Majority of the people in the U.S. still have the weekends off. Only the very few work... those who work in the hospitals, police force, firemen or selling donuts. The rest have the weekends off.
So you say it's best to do thing to accommodate the young one that don't really know what it means or don't give a shit about. Is that right? I thought that you are the older and wiser one that can advise those new born Cambodian to do the right thing.
Also are you saying that those Cambodian who work in the hospital, police force, firemen or selling donuts are not important? These people can be the most Cambodian who truely worship Bhuddist God on earth. You devil! and a shit head! Cambodian like you should be ashamed of yourself.
that sounds so exciting. always something to look forward to. i think someone should build a khmer shopping mall on the stretchof anaheim blvd; it would bring a lot of business to long beach for sure.
you should be glad that we celebrate Khmer New Year in the third world. It doesn't matter what day it fall on but important is that we teaches our children the significant of celebrating Khmer New Year. People work during the weekday and school during the weekday, weekend is the only day that most people can have free time and join together to celebrate the holiday. 11:15 i guess it must be so easy for you requesting a weekday off but when I worked in the hospital, I am a on call worker and I need to have my weekday open whenever they need me. Holiday is important but of course I don't want to lose my job because of a one day celebration. Some work place are very strict!
It deosn't feel like new year to celebrate it on a non new year day. It's stupid.
9:47pm,
You're the fucken devil, motherfucker. NO one is going to make all the changes to accomodate to a fucken donut baker like yourself!!!! I supposed u can't go on the weekends cuz you're fucken too busy baking and selling donuts, right? so fuck off motherfucker. Go blow yourself.
last message was meant for the fucken brainless 11:15pm, not 9:47pm
hey shithead 11:15pm, i'm not saying these people who work in those professions are not important. I'm saying they have different work schedules than the majority of the people. That's all. UNDERSTAND????? What a brainless fool!
Check out the Khmer New Year in Cambodia. We celebrate the New Year for like the whole week. Most schools closed down and then half of the people in Phnom Penh leave either to the Provinces or to another countries. It's always dead quiet here. So much for the spirit of the New Year. Really fun. You go to the temples where only about 50 or 100 people there. Hot as hell. Sit there sweating your ass off. Yes, very fun. So if you like to get into the spirit of the holiday, come to Cambodia. They will accomodate you whatever days you want. Come and pray and see your God.
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