Each year in the Khmer calendar is associated with a sacred animal. (sometimes called Rabbit or Hare in other Southeast Asian systems). The Cat is the 4th animal in the 12-year cycle. Those born in the Year of the Cat (e.g., 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987) are said to be gentle, polite, artistic, and lucky in love. However, 1987 was specifically the Fire Cat —meaning the elemental attribute of Fire added ambition, intensity, and a tendency toward quick temper.
1987 ( Khmer: ឆ្នាំ១៩៨៧) khmer calendar 1987
(April 13, 1987, BE 2531) — The welcoming of the new Moha Sangkran , a celestial angel. Families clean their homes, prepare offerings of fruits, perfumed water, and candles. In 1987, Cambodians in refugee camps along the Thai border (e.g., Site 2, Khao I Dang) observed the day with makeshift altars and shared meals. Each year in the Khmer calendar is associated
This is not just a grid of numbers. The standout feature is the meticulous alignment of the Chhankitek lunar system with the 1987 Gregorian year. The Buddhist Lent days (Vossa), the exact dates of the full moon and new moon, and the naming of lunar months (M reconciliationi, Phalkun, etc.) are presented with a clarity that rivals printed, temple-distributed wall calendars. For anyone researching events from that era or trying to retroactively confirm a birth date in a Cambodian family record, this is pure gold. The inclusion of minor solar and lunar eclipses (visible over Southeast Asia) was a surprising and welcome touch. Those born in the Year of the Cat (e
The Khmer calendar is a lunisolar system , meaning it tracks both the moon's phases and the solar year to keep seasonal festivals aligned. Rabbit ( Thos ). Era: 2530 Buddhist Era (BE).