Khmer New Year 2025: Celebration Dates, Traditions & Best Wishes (Choul Chhnam Thmey)

Did you know that Cambodia celebrates the New Year in April instead of January?

Khmer New Year, also called Choul Chhnam Thmey, is a joyful three-day celebration filled with tradition, family time, and hope for a better future.

In 2025, Khmer New Year falls from Monday, April 14 to Wednesday, April 16. After welcoming the Year of the Dragon in 2024, Cambodians now prepare to celebrate another new beginning with love, kindness, and excitement.

🎉 សួស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មី! (Soursdey Chnam Thmey!) 🎉

(Greeting Card) Happy Khmer New Year 2025. Starting after Visak Bochea Day on May 11, 2025, we enter the new Buddhist Era (B.E.) 2569.

🌞 A Time to Refresh and Think About the Past

Khmer New Year happens at the end of the rice harvesting season. It also marks the start of the traditional lunar new year. This is a time for people to let go of the past year’s problems and start fresh with good thoughts and hope.

Before and during the holiday, people clean their homes, prepare food, and visit family. You can hear music, see people dancing, and feel happiness all around!

🎉 Three Meaningful Days of Khmer New Year

Khmer New Year spans over three spiritual and symbolic days, each with its unique customs and meanings:

1️⃣ Day 1: មហាសង្រ្កាន្ត (Maha Sangkran)

Marks the official start of the new year.
People visit temples, perform water blessings, and clean their homes.
Offerings are made to welcome luck and drive away the negativity of the past year.

2️⃣ Day 2: វារ:វ័នបត (Virak Wanabat)

A day for family reunions, meals, and charity.
Cambodians give to the less fortunate and show gratitude to elders.
Sharing meals and exchanging gifts symbolize generosity and connection.

3️⃣ Day 3: វារៈឡើងស័ក (Virak Loeurng Sak)

Honors ancestors with rituals and prayers.
Families gather for spiritual ceremonies and blessings.
It’s also a joyful day with traditional games and water splashing to wash away misfortune.

🐍 Year of the Snake 2025: What It Means

2025 brings in the Year of the Snake, a zodiac sign known for wisdom, patience, and calm energy. As we welcome this new year, may we carry those qualities with us — ready to grow, learn, and move forward together.

🙏 My New Year Wishes for 2025

As the new year begins, I would like to share these wishes with all my friends, family, readers, and people everywhere:

🕊️ Peace & Prosperity: May Cambodia and every community enjoy peace, good health, and happiness in 2025.
🧡 Cultural Pride: May the beautiful traditions of Khmer New Year continue to live on in every heart.
🌍 Global Understanding: May people around the world learn more about Khmer culture and celebrate its rich values.

➡️ See Also: Happy Khmer New Year 2024

✈️ Planning to Visit Cambodia for New Year?

Khmer New Year is one of the best times to visit Cambodia. There are colorful parades, water games in the streets, and lots of cultural shows. Some travel agencies offer special holiday tours. And if you live abroad, try visiting a Cambodian community near you — they often host special events with food, music, and dance.

🎊 Rikreay Chhnam Thmey! Happy Khmer New Year 2025!

To all my readers, friends, colleagues, and the global community — May the Year of the Snake bring you peace, health, and success. May your heart be light, your family strong, and your journey full of good things.

📸 Share Your Khmer New Year Experience!

Have you ever joined in the Khmer New Year celebrations? What’s your favorite memory or tradition? 💬 Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

🙋‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is Khmer New Year 2025?

🗓️ It starts on Monday, April 14 and ends on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

What does Choul Chhnam Thmey mean?

It means “Enter the New Year” in Khmer language.

How do people celebrate Khmer New Year?

With temple visits, water blessings, family meals, traditional games, and honoring ancestors.

What is the zodiac animal for 2025?

🐍 It is the Year of the Snake in the Cambodian zodiac cycle.