From Cambodia to Carolina: A New Year, A Lasting Culture
{Photo Credit: Raymond Laws/Davidson Local)
When the Cambodian folks first came to the US and to Davidson County they didn’t show up chasing some dream like people always assume. Some came because they had to. They were running from war and genocide and all kinds of things that tore their country apart back in the late 70s and early 80s. I remember hearing the stories straight from them not in some history book but face to face on the job at Jeld-wen in their homes over plates of food that lit your mouth up in the best way.
What always got me was how strong they were. After everything they’d been through they still stood tall and held onto who they were. That kind of strength and pride in where you come from I respect that. I see it and I feel it because I know what it’s like to carry history on your back and still keep moving. Today, those traditions are alive and thriving, especially during Cambodian New Year, when temples fill with music, food, and the unmistakable spirit of Khmer culture. a culture that has not only survived but blossomed in its North Carolina home.
As mentioned in a previous article.
Growing up, we weren’t allowed to attend the temple. It wasn’t out of judgment or rejection but more like quiet respect. My Asian friends described the temple as sacred. Not a place for curious onlookers, but for those honoring tradition, ancestors, and faith. It was where families gathered not just to celebrate, but to remember who they were and where they came from.
For many of us outside the community, the Cambodian temple felt like a world within a world, close, yet just out of reach. But even from the outside, you could feel the weight of meaning in the music, the rituals, the careful preparation of food. It was a reminder that while some things get lost in the journey of immigration, others like faith and culture find ways to stay connected.
You can learn more about that journey on Sunday.
