Celebrating Cambodian New Year as a form of cultural resistance

On April 16, at the TTC campus, students and community members of Long Beach gathered to celebrate the Cambodian New Year, a tradition that is rooted in spirituality, generosity and renewal. 

The event also acted as a form of resistance, highlighting the importance of preserving Cambodian culture. 

The Cambodian New Year is a three-day celebration that occurs during mid-April with each day carrying its own meaning. 

“The first day marks the arrival of a new angel who’s descending from the heavens to welcome the year ahead,” said Joan Lee, an organizer of the event. 

_{Performer Dawnsavann Pham, right, acts out a mythology story as speaker Mea Lath, left, narrates it during the Cambodian New Year celebration event held at LBCC’s TTC campus on April 16. (Thavarath Ellis)}

She continued, “The second day is about generosity, giving to elders, to those in need and honoring ancestors. And the third day is purification of renewal and showing respect to their elders and the traditions that they carried forward.” 

For Lee, the celebration is deeply personal and tied to the Long Beach community.

“I was raised and educated here in Long Beach,” Lee said. “As a child, I would go to Cambodian New Year parades and celebrations at El Dorado Park. So much of this is about keeping that culture alive here.”

Lee continued to voice the meaning that cultural events like this one have to him. 

“To me, it means keeping that hope alive, that resilience alive, honoring our community and honoring both future generations and those who came before us,” Lee said. 

The event featured traditional Cambodian dance performances, which told stories rooted in mythology, emotion and cultural identity.

“This is our third year back, and for our presentation, I try to do something different each year,” said Mea Lath, who helped lead the performances. “This year was focused on storytelling and mythology.”

^{Performers Dawnsavann Pham, left, and Chakra Sokhomsan, right, perform “Robam Monosenchetana” or sentimental dance at the Cambodian New Year celebration event held at LBCC’s TTC campus on April 16. The dance portraysa prince and princess that fall in love before ultimately separating. It allows dancers to practice expressing deeper emotions such as sadness. (Thavarath Ellis)}

One of the featured dances was the Apsara dance, an iconic form in Cambodian culture that reflects grace and heritage. 

Another performance, “Robam Monosenchetana” or sentimental dance, portrayed a prince and princess falling in love before ultimately separating, allowing dancers to express deeper emotions such as sadness.

“It’s a way for dancers to learn how to express emotion, not just happiness,” Lath said 

Beyond performances, the event also included traditional Cambodian food provided by Little La Lune, a local restaurant that has supported the event for several years.

“It’s great to have a local restaurant provide meals for this event,” said Catherine Konchada, who helped coordinate the food distribution.

Menu options included ginger chicken and beef lok lak, also known as “shaken beef,” both commonly enjoyed Cambodian dishes.

For many students and others who attended, the Cambodian New Year is also a time for reflection and renewal.

“What’s unique about being Cambodian is that we celebrate multiple new years,” Lath said. “This one gives us another chance to reset our goals and reflect.”

As music played and dancers performed in traditional attire, the event created a space for cultural pride and community connection on campus.

^{Young dancers perform the dance Flowers of the World, at the Cambodian New Year celebration event held at LBCC’s TTC campus on April 16. The dance celebrates the children’s growth. (Thavarath Ellis)}

^{Dancers bow after their performances at the Cambodian New Year celebration event held at LBCC’s TTC campus on April 16. (Thavarath Ellis)}