People gently pouring water over Buddha statues during Songkran, the Thai New Year celebration.

Songkran & Flowers: A Thai Tradition of Renewal and Celebration

A Brief History of Songkran

Bowl of jasmine-infused water for traditional Songkran blessing rituals.

Songkran, celebrated annually in mid-April, marks the Thai New Year and is rooted in Buddhist and astrological traditions. Historically, the festival signaled the end of the dry season and welcomed the new agricultural cycle. Songkran is best known for its symbolic water rituals—representing purification, renewal, and a fresh start.

Over time, this celebration has evolved to blend religious customs, family gatherings, and joyful street festivities involving splashing water, paying respect to elders, and making merit at temples.

The Role of Flowers in Songkran Traditions

Flowers are central to Songkran, symbolizing purity, beauty, and spiritual refreshment. They appear in almost every facet of the festival:

1. Floral Water for Blessings

Jasmine, rose, and other fragrant flowers are steeped in water to create sacred scented water used in pouring rituals over Buddha statues and elders' hands—offering blessings of longevity and prosperity.

2. Floral Garlands & Decorations

Homes, altars, and streets are adorned with handmade flower garlands and blooms like marigold and orchid. These garlands are gifted to elders and monks as signs of respect and reverence.

3. Edible Flowers & Refreshments

Songkran meals often include delicate desserts or cooling drinks infused with floral ingredients like pandan, jasmine, or lotus, honoring seasonal abundance and wellness.

A Modern Take: Tea Rituals Inspired by Songkran

Glass teapot with blooming water lily tea inspired by Thai traditions.

As part of your own wellness celebration, you can create a modern ritual rooted in the spirit of Songkran—through a cup of flower tea.

One of the most symbolic options is our Water Lily Tea, which embodies hydration, calm, and seasonal renewal. Known in traditional Thai wellness for its cooling, detoxifying properties, Water Lily Tea is a fitting way to honor the cleansing essence of Songkran while creating space for mindfulness.

🌿 Hydrates and soothes the body
🌿 Supports clarity and inner calm
🌿 A beautiful bloom in every steep

📌 [Shop Water Lily Tea] – Celebrate Songkran through a ritual of renewal.

Back to blog