Solika Mau, left, and Sukunthiya Mau perform a traditional dance during a Cambodian New Year celebration in San Jose last April. This year’s celebration is set for April 14-16. “Celebrating our new year is a way to preserve our culture and to teach the younger generation about our identity,” says Moni Mau, the dancers’ father. (Courtesy photo)
Fresh green shoots and irises bursting into a medley of purples and yellows—all these are signs of spring. So it’s no surprise that in some parts of the world, they celebrate New Year at this time of year. Cambodia is one such country, although there, the