Thai people celebrate New Year on January 1 (since 1940), but they also celebrate Songkran (สงกรานต์). Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year water festival. Years ago, it was celebrated as the sun moved into the Aries portion of the zodiac, but now it is celebrated on April 13.

It is a very popular celebration, lasting four days. And while there are many traditions related to the Songkran, most revolve around washing away the old and welcoming the new with a fresh start. This is not as figurative as Western countries observe. Everyone gets involved in throwing water and everyone gets wet.

Songkran Bears Some Resemblance To The New Year.

• People clean their houses and dress in clothes for the New Year celebrations.
• People build pyramids of sand called chedis on the riverbanks and put tiny colored flags on them.
• All statues of Lord Buddha are washed with jasmine scented flowers, and people visit monasteries to pray.
• People pay homage to their ancestors and elders, as family has always been an important part of Thai culture.
• As part of the celebratory fun, people throw water on one another (even using squirt guns and garden hoses).

The Thai People Enjoy Many New Year Celebrations

In addition to Songkran, Thai people also count down the New Year on January 1, including watching fireworks. It is not uncommon for people to exchange gifts and cards. Interestingly enough, Thailand was the last country to officially adopt January 1 as the New Year (Venice was the first in 1522).

And, as many Thai people have some Chinese ancestors, it is a growing tradition to celebrate the Chinese New Year too. Chinese New Year has many elaborate ceremonies, including offerings to honor ancestors. Lion dances and fireworks are also common. The largest of these celebrations occurs in Bangkok.

Welcoming The New Year In Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, of course, has become one of the world's greatest places to celebrate on New Year's Eve. There are dozens of entertainment and dining options, especially before the Las Vegas Strip is shut down to allow people the chance to see a dazzling fireworks display off the roofs of many resorts.

New Year's Eve is also one of the busiest weekends for Las Vegas. So, if you are staying in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve, make sure you make dinner reservations as early as possible.

If you would like to try some Thai favorites on New Year's Eve, consider some of the dishes ordered during Songkran: pad Thai or green curry chicken. Two other favorites in Thailand are krayasad (a mixture made from puffed rice, oats, peanuts and Thai noodles) and kanom tom (sticky rice and mung bean balls piled high into a pyramid-shaped dessert), but they are not on the menu.

Kung Fu Plaza will be open on New Year's Eve with a full menu. While we often remain open for normal business hours, we have closed early some years as delivery to hotels is almost impossible once the Las Vegas Strip closes. Until then, happy New Year or, as you may hear in Thailand, sa-wat-dee pee mai ("happy New Year").

Although most people would never expect it, the Thai people love to partake in celebrations such as Christmas. While it is not a holiday in Thailand, trees are decorated and students dress as elves, Santas, and snow princesses. It's not uncommon for Thai school children to sing Christmas carols too. Bangkok is especially festive and decorated with holidays lights.

Las Vegas is another city that many people do not associate with Christmas. However, Christmas often draws as many as 300,000 people per day during the holidays. This weekend will be especially busy with several headliners including Celine Dion, Boys II Men, and David Copperfield.

All the excitement usually leaves people thinking about Christmas dinner too late. And by that time, it becomes very difficult to find a restaurant. If you have not booked reservations for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, make sure you do as soon as possible. Or, if you forget and have any trouble finding an open table, please know that we will be happy to deliver to you.

Five Tempting Dinners For Christmas Day 2010.

Pinot Brasserie. Located at The Venetian, Pinot Brasserie is featuring a three- or four-course menu with three entrees that include black cod with artichoke barrigoule, crispy chicken bread with a morel mushroom cream, or ribeye steak with with chanterelle fricassee. The menu was developed by executive Chef Eric Lhuillier. Service begins at 5:30 p.m. $55 per person for three courses; $65 person for four courses; and $15.95 for children under 12.

Sirio Ristorante. Located at Aria, Sirio Ristorante features old-time Tuscan recipes created by Sirio Maccioni and prepared by Chef Vincenzo Scarmiglia. Their Christmas dinner for 2010 will include a four-course menu with a choice of pan-seared dover sole filet with an orange sauce or roasted veal medallions rapped in prosciutto. $105 per person.

Alizé. Located at the top of The Palms, Chef André Rochat has created a special holiday menu for Alizé consisting of five courses with a choice of sauteed striped sea bass with a spicy merguez sauce or pan-roasted cervena venison. It will also feature the chef's special egg nog creme brulee as an unforgettable pre-dessert. Service begins at 5:30 p.m. $105 per person. There is also an optional seven-course tasting menu for $125 per person.

Mon Ami Gabi. Located inside the Paris Hotel, Mon Ami Gabi will offer guests a full menu plus an optional traditional three-course Christmas Day dinner. There are four choices of entrees, including roast turkey with chestnut stuffing, sauteed salmon with crayfish, grilled filet of beef with Merlot butter, and braised lamb shank with green olive chile relish. This special dinner is priced at $49 per person. Regular hours of operation.

Kung Fu Plaza. Located near the gateway to Chinatown Las Vegas, Kung Fu Plaza will provide its full menu of traditional Thai cuisine and Chinese dishes. Especially fitting for Christmas dinner, guests can try pa-nang pork, roast whole duck, or the popular Kung Fu Plaza roast duck. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and room service delivery is available to Las Vegas Strip hotels. Entrees average $10 per person.

Pad Thai is probably the best known of all Thai dishes. It also relies on the foundation of great Thai cooking, balancing flavor sensations created by different ingredients such as coriander, tamarind juice, fish sauce, and lime.

It is extremely popular in Thailand and is readily offered at street stalls, cafes, and casual eateries. In fact, Thailand considers it one of several national dishes, since Luang Phibunsongkhram, prime minister in the 1930s and 40s, adopted it.

"Pad simply means stir fry in Thai. It was originally developed after a specific rice noodle was brought to the ancient Thai capital of Ayuthaya by Vietnamese tradesmen," said Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza in Las Vegas. "After it was introduced to the Thai people, rice noodles became one of the most popular types of food after steamed rice."

The enjoyment of rice noodles may not have been the only reason. Some people suggest that Luang Phibunsongkhram was hoping to increase rich exports from Thailand. By adopting pad Thai as a national dish following World War II, the country was able to begin producing rice noodles while exporting more rice.

"There is a sense of national pride with pad Thai that goes beyond creating a recipe," says Wong. "Pad Thai helped end the post-war recession and stave off massive unemployment. It was not much different than Westerners rationing certain groceries during the war, allowing those rations to be sent oversees to the troops."

Western-style pad Thai is different than authentic pad Thai.

Unlike the Western variations that tend to be heavier (especially those that incorporate ketchup), authentic pad Thai is lighter and drier. The incorporation of ketchup is an attempt to replace tamarind while appealing to the Western taste for tomatoes.

"Ketchup is not a very fitting substitute," explains Wong. "Tamarind is a fruit that is more like a date. It is very common in Indian cuisine to create a bittersweet flavor as opposed to the full-bodied sweetness of a tomato."

While pad Thai can be cooked with a number of meats or even tofu, authentic pad Thai consisted of shrimp. It often includes fresh eggs, red chili peppers, and bean sprouts. While it is popular in Thailand, it is also common fare and not usually included in fine restaurants. Still, Wong says, Thai restaurants ought to take more care because too many people are surprised when they are served one of the real recipes.

"I recently read a review complaining about pad Thai drowning in orangey-red sauce. This person had eaten pad Thai in Thailand so he knew better," said Wong. "When I read these reviews of other restaurants, I so want to tell them to come to Kung Fu Plaza in Las Vegas and they will not even have to ask for the real thing. We serve it here daily."

Wong admits that there are many ways to make pad Thai, but the reddish color — whether from ketchup or chili sauce — is usually a giveaway that the dish is Westernized. Wong also added that there is one recipe where his restaurant uses ketchup, but it should never be used as a substitute for tamarind.

Kung Fu Plaza offers the most authentic and best Thai food in Las Vegas. Since 1973, it has been considered a favorite among people visiting from Thailand and Thai people in Las Vegas.

Last Sunday, it was a very special day for the Thai people. It was Father's Day is celebrated on the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He is 84 this year.

"Traditionally, Thais celebrated by giving their fathers a Canna flower and wearing yellow on this day to show respect for the king," said Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza. "There have been some changes in recent years. Some people wear pink in honor of the blazer he wore while leaving the hospital in 2007. We honored him yesterday as we do every day."

According to Wong, these changes are indicative of Thailand as a nation that balances tradition and contemporary ideas. It's a practice that his family has long observed even while living in the United States.

"We have many modern amenities such as offering guests free WiFi," says Wong. "But we also strive to be the most authentic and best Thai restaurant in Las Vegas, enough so that when people come from Thailand, they include us on their visit."

Where Thai People Find The Best Thai Food In Las Vegas.

In November, delegates from the Tourism Authority of Thailand seemed to agree. While attending an exhibition at the DEMA Show in Las Vegas, they visited Kung Fu Plaza and frequently ordered deliveries every day during their stay.

"We were honored that all of them dined with us twice, some three times, and ordered lunch to enjoy at their exhibition booth," said Wong. "This touches on the differences between Thai restaurants in the United States that I alluded to last week. Thai people want to know if a restaurant is truly Thai or if it is Western Thai. While we have an expansive menu for all tastes, we are truly Thai."

Wong said the delegates were visiting Las Vegas to share how Thailand is evolving in Asia at DEMA, which is the sole international trade-only event for the diving, action water sports and travel industries. On one hand, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by European powers and has remained unified as a kingdom since the mid-14th century. On the other hand, Thailand is very progressive as a travel destination with world-class jungle retreats, spas, and beach resorts.

"There is so much to see and do in Thailand," says Wong. "As a native American, I don't travel back as often as my father. But I have visited enough times to appreciate the importance of the traditions we have held here."

Kung Fu Plaza has served the best Thai food in Las Vegas since 1973. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.