Karen New Year!

December 18th was Karen New Year here in Myanmar. Our nanny, Mimi, and her family are Karen and they invited us up to her town to celebrate the day. Mimi even brought Paul, Piper, and I traditional Karen outfits to wear for the day. They are beautiful!

Karen New Year is celebrated on the first day of the month of Pyathoe (Dec/Jan) in the Karen calendar. According to Karen traditional practice there is a celebration to mark the end of the rice harvesting season and the consumption of the crops and to prepare for the planting of the new crops. Karen New Year is not a distinct holiday for any religious group and is therefore celebrated by all Karens regardless of religion.

It was amazing to be able to share this experience with Mimi and her family. I hope we get to attend the next few years as well! Happy Karen New Year!

Mimi's mother, Mimi, Me, Paul, Piper

Paul and Piper with the Karen dance troupe

The dance troupe performing traditional Karen dances

Kyaw Myo Thu and Jayden (Mimi's husband and son)

Piper getting her face painted (with the Karen flag)

The Karen flag and the local drum

Piper and Jayden

Playing around in Mimi's house

Piper and some new friends

Piper getting a clay doll made

Piper and Te Nu Sa (Mimi's niece)

There were a lot of fun activities happening all day. Soccer, futsal, volleyball, chinlone, tug of war competitions, pillow fight competitions, and a number of rides that were set up for the evening. 

It was a