2012 -- S 2902

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LC02257

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING THE CELEBRATION OF THE CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR AND "THE

YEAR OF THE DRAGON"

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Jabour, Pinga, Felag, and P Fogarty

     Date Introduced: April 26, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, One of the most important and popular of Cambodian holidays, ushering in

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the New Year, occurs from April 13th through the 15tth  and marks the end of the harvesting

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season; and

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     WHEREAS, Each Cambodian year is popularly known by one of the 12 animals of the

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Zodiac. These names provide a ready reference because each is used only once in 12 years. This

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year, 2012, will be celebrated as "The Year of the Dragon"; and

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     WHEREAS, The holiday celebration is a three-day event that begins on New Year’s

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Day.  Moha Sangkran is the first day of the event and symbolizes the ending of one year and

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beginning anew.  Cambodians traditionally clean and decorate their homes and prepare food for

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the New Year inauguration and to welcome the “New Angels at every single home”; and

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     WHEREAS, Day two of the Cambodian New Year’s celebration is Wanabot.  It is a time

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to offer gifts to one’s parents, grandparents, and elders, and to contribute to charity and help those

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less fortunate; and

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     WHEREAS, The third day of the New Year’s celebration is called Thhnay Leung Sakk,

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which means the year “starts to be counted from this day.”  People generally go to temple in the

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morning and end the day with the “Pithi Srang Preah” where they cleanse the Buddha statues and

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their monks, elders, parents, and grandparents as an act of contrition to apologize for any

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transgressions done to them; and

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     WHEREAS, The Cambodian New Year’s holiday is rich with tradition and a perfectly

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wonderful time for men and women, both young and old, to come together and celebrate; now,

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therefore, be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby recognizes the celebration of the Cambodian New Year and "The Year of the Dragon";

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and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate wishes to extend its deepest respect and appreciation to the

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Rhode Island Cambodian community for all that it has contributed to the rich diversity of Rhode

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Island culture; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Samnang K. Becker, President of the

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Cambodian Society of Rhode Island, Inc.

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LC02257

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