Pchum Ben: Ancestors Day

We have mentioned before that there are 27 paid holidays in Cambodia. This week is one of the biggest. This week the city of Phnom Penh is very quiet, and most businesses are closed and shuttered with large gates drawn closed around them. Most of the people have returned to their home provinces in celebration of Pchum Ben or Ancestors Day.

We did a little research to learn about this holiday and found that this is unique to Cambodia. According to their tradition there is one day a year that the gates of hell are opened, allowing ancestors up to seven generations back to come closer to the living. In order to help their deceased family everyone goes to the Watt to take food for their ancestors. Some of the write-ups said they may even toss rice balls in the air for the ghosts of their family to be able to receive nourishment from those living.

As we see it, it seems a cross between Halloween and Memorial Day, with everyone remembering those who have gone on before, but giving treats to the ghosts. Our benefit has been how quiet the city is and how few cars and motos are on the roads. We may have the week off, but we have still been busy and seem to have things schedule that will take us to the office almost every day.

Today was also the follow-up inspection day for missionary apartments. We picked up packages of Pepperidge Farm cookies to deliver as rewards since we really don't have an oven to be able to bake treats. All four apartments were in much better shape than two weeks ago. We even learned of a transfer we were not aware of for one of the companionships. All seemed genuinely please with how much better the clean homes felt. Now we just pray they will keep them clean!

With having cleaned for two days, President and Sister Christensen arranged for a celebration for all the missionaries in the city. All those assigned to areas in and around Phnom Penh gathered to the South Stake Center for a movie (Joseph Smith and the Restoration), and ice cream and cookies for dessert. It is always good to have a celebration. This was also good to have a celebration for the Khmer missionaries during their country's holiday.