Without doubt the biggest celebration in the annual calendar of Luang Prabang is for Lao New Year or Pi Mai. The exact days of the old and new year is determined by consideration of the solar and lunar calendars generally falling between April 14th and 16th each year. The Lao calendar is known as Chula Sakkharat (ຈຸລະສັກກຣາດ) and counts from the year 638CE, this new year [2025] being the year 1387. However, one may more frequently see the Buddhist year referenced which counts from the year 543BC [2025 = 2568]
Interestingly the traditional Lao belief is that the transition from old to new year takes three or four days. So rather than a count-down to a single moment of celebration Pi Mai extends over a week of important rituals and festivities to close the old year out and to start the new year auspiciously. The last day of the old year is called Meu Sangkhan Long (ມື້ສັງຂານລ່ອງ) or Meu Pai (Leaving day) for short, whilst the first day of the new year is called Meu Sangkhan Kuen Pimai (ມື້ສັງຂານຂຶ້ນປີໃໝ່) or Meu Pimai for short. But between these days may be one or sometimes two days known as Meu Sangkhan Nau (ມື້ສັງຂານເນົາ) or Meu Nau (Stop days) which traditionally were days when nobody should work.
Interestingly the traditional Lao belief is that the transition from old to new year takes three or four days. So rather than a count-down to a single moment of celebration Pi Mai extends over a week of important rituals and festivities to close the old year out and to start the new year auspiciously. The last day of the old year is called Meu Sangkhan Long (ມື້ສັງຂານລ່ອງ) or Meu Pai (Leaving day) for short, whilst the first day of the new year is called Meu Sangkhan Kuen Pimai (ມື້ສັງຂານຂຶ້ນປີໃໝ່) or Meu Pimai for short. But between these days may be one or sometimes two days known as Meu Sangkhan Nau (ມື້ສັງຂານເນົາ) or Meu Nau (Stop days) which traditionally were days when nobody should work.
Over the new year period many different traditional ceremonies and festivities take place making it hard for visitors to understand fully all the events that they might see. In the following chapters we describe the main events of Pi Mai and explain their traditional significance. In the last Summary chapter we provide a quick overview of what activities to expect on each day.
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