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Pchum Ben

Pchum Ben- remember the ancestors

17 September 2009 by Nathalie Abejero Leave a Comment

This is such a great photo, shared by Metro Cafe.

It is Pchum Ben in Cambodia, one of the biggest Buddhist holidays in which people visit the pagodas and bring offerings in remembrance of their ancestors. Once again there is a mass exodus from the city as the Khmer go to their provinces to visit their families, and foreigners take advantage of the many days off to flee the country.

Pchum Ben is similar to the Christians’ All Saints’ Day. This ritual used to be an ancient Celtic celebration called Samhain. Attempting to suppress these pagan traditions the Catholic Church created All Saints’ Day (All Hallows Day) in the 7th century to christianise the event.

Other cultures have rituals for remembering their dead around this same time of year too:

  • the Pasola Festival in Sumba, an island east of Bali
  • Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico
  • Dia de los ñatitas (Day of the Skulls) in Bolivia
  • Brazil celebrates Finados (Day of the Dead)
  • Araw ng mga Patay (Day of the Dead) in the Philippines
  • O-bon (お盆) or only Bon (盆), a Buddhist holiday in Japan
  • Hankawi (한가위,中秋节) is Korea’s traditional day of remembrance of their dead
  • Ghost month (鬼月) in China
Safe travels on this holiday everyone!

Filed Under: Travels Tagged With: Cambodia, Pchum Ben, Phnom Penh

Just another long weekend

4 October 2005 by Nathalie Abejero Leave a Comment

Yet another speedy exodus of the expats from the country for the long holiday weekend of Pchum Ben, a Bhuddist event honoring spirits of ancestors by bringing offerings of food to the temples. I spent some time catching up on news from the US, more especially the debates–er, confusion–surrounding the Harriet Miers nomination. “Trust me,” George W. says, in all seriousness.

Blunt object please…

Filed Under: Interests, Life Tagged With: bush, Pchum Ben

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Those little feet pitter-pattering about rule our lives lately. But on the occasional free moment I get to tap out scatterbrained bursts of consciousness about raising toddlers in Cambodia, traveling with them and working abroad. These posts are my personal updates to friends and family. But since you’re here, have a look around. Thanks for stopping by…

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