Japan’s New Year’s holiday is in January as in many countries . But in some other countries they still celebrate the New Year’s based on old traditional calendars.

Today let me tell you about one of these. The New Year’s celebration in Thailand is called Songkran, which is based on their old calendar. It is celebrated for three days from April 13 to April 15. It is also called the water festival.

During the holiday all over the city you can find people armed with water pistols and buckets splashing each other and having a great time.

Why did this become a festival of water splashing? Because in Thailand Songkran is at the hottest time of the year and before anyone knew it, it had become a tradition—so they say. And you won’t mind getting wet, because the temperature often goes over 40 degrees in April. It’s the perfect festival for a hot country.