There's no singularity when it comes to honoring Lunar New Year, including in 海角换妻

海角换妻

Where We Live

There's no singularity when it comes to honoring Lunar New Year, including in 海角换妻

By Katie Pellico,

Catherine Shen

Published April 11, 2024 at 8:32 AM EDT

1 of 4 — 342362301_1170149530368385_5385346563133434270_n.jpg

In celebration of the Khmer New Year, a woman dressed in traditional celebration garments known as the Sampot Charobab performs a ceremonial dance at the Khmer New Year hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻 on April 17th, 2023.

Courtesy of Mike Keo / Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻

2 of 4 — 342399004_224829966834773_5544444629901583409_n.jpg

A woman takes part in the gilding of a buddha statue at the Khmer New Year celebration hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻 on April 17th, 2023.

Courtesy of Mike Keo / Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻

3 of 4 — 342442198_897274348015737_4772251479049334820_n.jpg

As a way to show respect to elders and receive blessings for the upcoming year, those who celebrate hand out flowers as part of the Khmer New Years hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻 on April 17th, 2023.

Courtesy of Mike Keo / Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻

4 of 4 — 342479641_2001520716846849_1237365893858505916_n.jpg

Elders and Monks sit and allow those who celebrate the holiday to give them a special bath at the Khmer New Year Celebration hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻 on April 17th, 2023. It's a way to apologize for any mistakes, as well as get forgiveness and blessing from them.

Courtesy of Mike Keo / Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻

In 海角换妻, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is vast and varied, with more than 170,000 AAPI people in the state.

And with a diversity of AAPI cultures, there is also a diversity of New Year traditions and celebrations that span across months. We鈥檙e just days away from the Laotian New Year and Thai New Year, as well as a hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of 海角换妻 in Bristol.

This hour, we鈥檒l discuss the diversity of Lunar New Year celebrations where we live, and unpack some of the debate around terminology.

GUESTS:

Quan Tran (below right): Co-chair, Asian Pacific American Coalition of 海角换妻; Senior Lecturer on Race, Ethnicity and Migration, Yale University
Sounthaly Thammavong: Board Member, Asian Pacific American Coalition of 海角换妻
Mike Keo (below left): Senior Communication Officer, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Founder,

海角换妻 intern Sajina Shrestha contributed to this report.

Where We Live is available as a podcast on , , , , , or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Photographed April 11, 2024, Quan Tran, Co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Coalition of 海角换妻 and Senior Lecturer on Race, Ethnicity and Migration at Yale University appeared on Where We Live. The show鈥檚 topic was Lunar New Year. (Mark Mirko/海角换妻) — .

Where We Live

Katie Pellico

Katie is a producer for 海角换妻 Radio's news-talk show 'Where We Live.' She has previously worked for CNN and News 8-WTNH.

See stories by Katie Pellico

Catherine Shen

Catherine is the Host of 海角换妻鈥檚 morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live. Catherine and the WWL team focus on going beyond the headlines to bring in meaningful conversations that put 海角换妻 in context.

See stories by Catherine Shen