Pchum Ben (All Souls Day) 18-20 September 2009

The Church Celebration Today, Sunday, was celebrated as All Souls Day in Cambodia. For most of the Western Church, it was the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, but because Cambodian culture and society honors their ancestors and deceased family members at this Pchum Ben time, the Church has given permission for All Souls Day to be moved to this festive period so that Christianity is not seen as "foreign" and at odds with the local customs and mores.
	At the rear of the Catholic Church compound is this small stupa, of traditional architecture, where the ashes of cremated persons are kept. Most people are cremated in Cambodia and for the Catholic Cambodians a sacred place to keep the ashes of their relatives is important.
	Inside the stupa—which is always open and never locked—families have placed small urns with the ashes and pieces of bone from the cremation of their loved ones. A variety of containers and arrangements are evident. Some show Chinese influence, others just more money in the family. Note the can of Coca-Cola left as an offering by one urn.
	Because two of the three Pchum Ben holidays fell on the weekend, the government granted another day off on the following Monday. So even though people have had three days off from work, the streets are still empty because most people will not return to town until Monday.
	Many small businesses in Cambodia have no formal address or even a building but are just set up along the streets. This pile of tables and goods is wrapped in a blue plastic tarp and sits next to a building waiting for the owners to come and set up their business again on Tuesday.
	Because this is such a major holiday the garbage collection by the trucks was halted so bags of trash have appeared along the streets throughout the city.