| R 169 |
| 2016 -- H 8074 Enacted 04/13/2016 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RECOGNIZING THE CELEBRATION OF THE CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR AND "THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY" |
| Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Diaz, Hull, Bennett, and Williams |
| Date Introduced: April 13, 2016 |
| WHEREAS, One of the most important and popular of Cambodian holidays, ushering in |
| the New Year, is Choul Chnam Thmey, which literally means "Enter the New Year." It occurs |
| from April 13th through the 15th and marks the end of the harvesting season; and |
| WHEREAS, Each Cambodian year is popularly known by one of the 12 animals of the |
| Zodiac. These names provide a ready reference because each is used only once in 12 years. This |
| year, 2016, will be celebrated as "The Year of the Monkey"; and |
| WHEREAS, The holiday celebration is a three-day event that begins on New Year’s Day. |
| Moha Sangkran is the first day of the event and symbolizes the ending of one year and beginning |
| anew. Cambodians traditionally clean and decorate their homes and prepare food for the New |
| Year inauguration and to welcome the "New Angels at every single home"; and |
| WHEREAS, Day two of the Cambodian New Year's celebration is Wanabot. It is a time |
| to offer gifts to one's parents, grandparents, and elders, and to contribute to charity and help those |
| less fortunate; and |
| WHEREAS, The third day of the New Year's celebration is called Thhnay Leung Sakk, |
| which means the year "starts to be counted from this day." People generally go to temple in the |
| morning and end the day with the "Pithi Srang Preah" where they cleanse the Buddha statues and |
| their monks, elders, parents, and grandparents as an act of contrition to apologize for any |
| transgressions done to them; and |
| WHEREAS, The Cambodian New Year's holiday is rich with tradition and a perfectly |
| wonderful time for men and women, both young and old, to come together and celebrate; now, |
| therefore, be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
| Providence Plantations hereby recognizes the celebration of the Cambodian New Year and the |
| "Year of the Monkey"; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House wishes to extend its deepest respect and appreciation to the |
| Rhode Island Cambodian community for all that it has contributed to the rich diversity of Rhode |
| Island culture; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Chanda Womack, President of the Cambodian |
| Society of Rhode Island, Inc. |
| ======== |
| LC005270 |
| ======== |