Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, and is normally celebrated from April 13 to 15. April 13 is National Elderly Day and April 14 is Family Day. Thus the festival is intended as a time of celebration for family and friends. But for many people, Songkran is just "the water festival" - a chance to throw water at anyone in sight, including complete strangers, and have fun drinking and revelling all day and night.