New Years in Myanmar is celebrated over a 3 to 4 day period knows as Thingyan- (water festival). Thingyan is the most revered and fun of all Burmese holidays and usually begins on April 12th or 13th. Young, old, family and friends celebrate by gathering and eating rice balls (mont lone ye paw) an important holiday staple. Inside these rice balls consumers will find the sweet treat of palm sugar inside. However, on occasion, and as a joke for an unsuspecting friend or relative, you might find strategically placed chilies inside your rice ball instead of palm sugar for a spicy surprise!
Thingyan is more pronounced in the streets of all Burmese cities. Traditionally a clean bowl filled with sandalwood, thanaka, or perfumed laced water. The water is then sprinkled on friends using eugenia leaves. But traditions oft are replaced by more modern traditions-and today the water festival involves people walking and driving through the streets and dousing anyone in their vicinity with water!
The purpose of pouring the water on someone is akin to "washing away all of your bad doings" from the previous year-bringing in a fresh, new and improved "you" to welcome the New Year!
You will often find Thingyan decorated with petite yellow flowers called Padauk. Padauk blooms once per year-usually in April and in conjunction with the water festival. A revered flower that you will also find when it blooms, adorned in the long black silky hair of a Burmese woman.