2014
Street Scenes
The lunar new year is not an official holiday in Cambodia but everyone takes off. The country closes down about as much as it does for the Khmer New Year in April. This shop is selling fruit baskets which are required gifts when making the traditional visits to parents and grandparents. | |
This a Chinese-run school for children of families that want to preserve their Chinese heritage. The school put up new year decorations well in advance. | |
Usually gold colored fruits, like oranges, are the fruits of choice for the traditional new year gifts, but this woman is selling watermelons with a new year sticker attached. Traditional peach trees are for sale in the background. | |
The flower of choice for the new year is the chrysanthemum. Its gold color and round flower represents the gold coins and wealth that is the wish for the new year. | |
Depictions of traditional scenes are part of many Chinese houses and these large paintings are available for families serious about their new year decorating. Notice the horse (this is the Year of the Horse) out in front. | |
These young women are burning offerings, including a model Lexus, for the spirits of the deceased, to keep them appeased so that they do not cause trouble for the living. | |
This is a small street shrine near the deaf office. It is usually almost invisible and unattended but during the three days of the holidays many people came to pray and make offerings. | |
The most frequent sign of the new year was shuttered shops like this woman. Many shop owners put up decorations and set out flowers--and then closed their doors, either celebrating within or traveling to visit relatives. | |
At this little girl's house, an inside shrine with its offerings well lit and a second shrine outside also has new candles and flower and incense. | |
This old woman sits outside her house. Her simple offering of fruit for the spirits sits on the table. |
Go to Charlie Dittmeier's home page