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Hi all,
this is a real question - when you move into a new place, how important is it to get your house blessed by monks ? Is it the same if you move into a brand new place or if you just take over someone else's house? Do apartments need blessing the same as an individual house ?

I'd just like to get a take on this from other foreigners who have bought homes here. Is this just a thing to do, or do you think that it is really important for your Cambodian family ?
I know from experience that everybody here loves a good excuse for a ceremony and a party - but is it more than that ?

Also like to hear what you think about this, Samouth and LS.

Kinda related, I'm keen to see how our landlord responds when we put a nativity scene in the spirit house built into our front room...

He didn't seem thrilled when we removed the red threads tying the house together as we moved in.

i imagine you will have approval with the nativity scene.
Khmers are avid adopters of outside influences.

In my experience, it is very important to Khmer when they move into a new residence to have the place blessed, whether it is a new build, old house, rented house/apartment, basically anywhere they plan on living. Not necessarily to chase the ghosts out, but to reassure them that the new tenants are not their to do them any harm...that's my understanding anyway...I normally just go along for the feed and piss-up afterwards.

frank lee bent wrote:i imagine you will have approval with the nativity scene.
Khmers are avid adopters of outside influences.

Possibly start selling them...

PSD-Kiwi wrote:In my experience, it is very important to Khmer when they move into a new residence to have the place blessed, whether it is a new build, old house, rented house/apartment, basically anywhere they plan on living. Not necessarily to chase the ghosts out, but to reassure them that the new tenants are not their to do them any harm...that's my understanding anyway...I normally just go along for the feed and piss-up afterwards.

What he said.


If you have a Khmer spouse, then she has the right to maintain her beliefs. If that means appeasing spirits, then I don't have a problem with that.


@Stroppy, if you're still living at the same place, why not use that entire wall opposite your front door for the nativity scene. Saw a lot of spectacular Xmas-lit gardens last year in Oz. Your neighbors will love it (but you pay for the pleung, ok?).

Username Taken wrote:@Stroppy, if you're still living at the same place, why not use that entire wall opposite your front door for the nativity scene. Saw a lot of spectacular Xmas-lit gardens last year in Oz. Your neighbors will love it (but you pay for the pleung, ok?).

The neighbours have claimed part of that wall for stacking their charcoal...

Oh, and they brought home a new baby today, so that should be fun! Much blessing going on in their household, fortunately there's plenty of free parking right behind our tuktuks so they don't have to park in their own space.

Seriously though, what's an appropriate gift to give neighbours you don't really get on with on the arrival of yet another neighbour?

Sorry, I don't think the search function is functioning.

But, err, the same as when you visited the friend in hospital. Nestle's Bear brand sterilized milk. And half a smile.

StroppyChops wrote:
Seriously though, what's an appropriate gift to give neighbours you don't really get on with on the arrival of yet another neighbour?

No need to give anything unless you get invitated to the buddhist blessing party when the infant is one month old, in which case you probably will receive an envelope

A copy of the christian chronicle, the warchtower or whatever propaganda filth you peddle.