http://matadornetwork.

com/abroad/10-thai-customs-to-know-before-visitingthailand/

WITH ITS CHAOTIC VENEER, Thai customs are easily overlooked in

Bangkok. Respect the local people by knowing these ten cultural points
before you embark on travels in Thailand.

Photo by specialkrb

Versatile Greeting
The wai, or pressing your palms together at chest or nose level and bowing
your head slightly, is a gesture that you will encounter almost immediately
upon arrival in Thailand.
An integral part of Thai etiquette, it denotes respect (or reverence when
performed in front of a Buddha image), and can be used to express a hello,
thank you, or goodbye.
Absolute Reverence

Photo by permanently scatterbrained

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, and the royal family is revered

throughout the country. The King is especially beloved for his six decades
of public service and humble demeanor.
His image is everywhere, from posters plastered on the exterior of buildings
to photos displayed on taxi dashboards.
Always stand when the Kings anthem is played before movies, concerts
and sporting events. Travelers should also refrain from making disparaging
remarks about the royals.
Strict lse majest laws apply, and offenses are punishable by
imprisonment.

National Pride
Over the past several decades, the government has introduced various
practices to encourage nationalism.

Photo by Swami Stream

One example of this institutionalized patriotism is twice daily broadcasts of

the national anthem.
Pedestrians, commuters, and students are required to stop or stand
whenever this song is played.
In recent efforts to boost patriotism, a group of generals proposed that
traffic also come to a standstill, arguing that motorists already spend more
time in traffic jams anyway.
Colorful Days
Based on pre-Buddhist Hindu legends, a particular auspicious color is
associated with each day of the week. This is most noticeable on Mondays,
when many people wear yellow shirts, acknowledging and honouring the
day on which the King was born. Other popular colors include pink
(Tuesday) and light blue (Friday, the Queens day of birth).
Given recent political protests, the colors red and yellow are also of
significance, representing opposing movements.
Never mind!
The phrase Mai pen rai (never mind) describes the countrys unofficial
philosophy, capturing locals knack for keeping cool in taxing or annoying
situations. In the grand scheme of things, why stress about trifling matters?
Mai pen rai!

This laidback mindset goes hand-in-hand with an inherent sense of lightheartedness. Nothing is taken too seriously, and anything worth doing
should contain some element of sanuk (fun)!
Sexual Tolerance

Photo by zaphodsotherhead

Thailand has long enjoyed a reputation for sexual tolerance, based more on
non-confrontational (as opposed to progressive) attitudes. The country is
very safe for GLBT travelers.
Transsexuals, also known as krathoeys or ladyboys, are highly visible in
mainstream society, from scantily clad teens to high-profile celebrities.
Religious Objects
About 95% of Thailands population is comprised of Buddhists from the
Theravada school.

Photo by jurvetson

Despite teachings against material attachment, many Thais worship

Buddha images and don amulets for protection.
Various animist practices have also been integrated into Thai religious life.
Most buildings boast spirit houses or altars, where offerings of food and
garlands are made to appease the spirits inhabiting the land.
Avoid touching such displays as some Thais can be highly superstitious,
fearing disruption of harmonious balance.
Bodily Conduct

Based on Buddhist beliefs, the head is the most valued part of the body
while the feet are the lowest, symbolizing attachment to the ground, a
cause of human suffering.

Photo by irene2005

Touching someones head is highly offensive, as is raising your feet or

pointing them at people or religious objects.
Shoes are to be removed before entering homes and religious structures.
Most types of attire are tolerated in areas frequented by tourists. It is a good
idea, however, to cover up when visiting temples and shrines. Those
wearing sleeveless tops, short skirts, shorts, and flip flops may be denied
entrance.
It is not unusual to encounter signs prohibiting women from entering highly
sacred places, such as temple libraries. Women who wish to worship do so
outside the buildings.
Also, while it is taboo for a woman to touch a monk or pass things to him
directly, polite conversation is fine.
Nicknames
Thais are generally addressed by their first names, preceded by the
honorific title Khun, appropriate for both men and women. In more casual
settings, mono-syllabic nicknames are used.
More traditional monikers cover categories such as colors, animals, and
fruit, including Daeng (red), Lek (small), and Moo (pig); these days, you will
encounter nicknames such as Good,MONEY , and Benz (as in the luxury
auto).
Bathroom Basics

Outside of large cities, squat toilets rule. These are flushed by pouring
water from an adjacent bucket into the hole. Also, used toilet paper is to be
discarded in the bin provided; never try to flush it down as it most plumbing
isnt designed to handle paper.
Traditional washrooms include a trough filled with water where a ladle or
bowl is used to sluice water over the body. In areas where outdoor bathing
is the norm, women will don a cotton sarong or wraparound, and men will
bathe in their underwear.

Photo by jurvetson

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/thailand-countryprofile.html
Ethnic Make-up: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6%
(1991)
Government: constitutional monarchy
Languages in Thailand
The Thai language is comprised of 44 consonants, 32 vowels and five tones in Thai
pronunciation, along with a script that has Indian origins. The Thai language, belonging to
the Tai family, is the main language in Thailand although there are several regional dialects
as well. Other languages spoken in Thailand are Chinese, Lao, Malay and Mon-Khmer,
while English use is becoming more prevalent in government and COMMERCE . English is
also being taught as a second language in secondary school and universities, which enables
the English speaking visitor in Thailand to have little trouble conversing.

Thai Society & Culture

The Wai

The wai is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of
protocol.

Raising both hands, palms joined with the fingers pointing upwards as if
in prayer, lightly touching the body somewhere between the chest and the
forehead, is the standard form.

The wai is both a sign of respect as well as a greeting. Respect and

courtesy are demonstrated by the height at which the hands are held and how
low the head comes down to meet the thumbs of both hands.

The wai may be made while sitting, walking, or standing.

The person who is junior in age or status is the first one to offer the wai.

The senior person returns the wai, generally with their hands raised to
somewhere around their chest.

If a junior person is standing and wants to wai a senior person who is

seated, the junior person will stoop or bow their head while making the wai.

If there is a great social distance between two people, the wai will not be
returned.
Buddhism in Thailand

Thailand is a stronghold of Buddhism.

Buddhists believe that life does not begin with birth and end with death,
but rather that every person has several lives based upon the lessons of life
not yet learned and acts committed (karma) in previous lives.

Buddhists believe that selfishness and craving result in suffering and

that compassion and love bring happiness and well-being.

The true path to peace is to eliminate all desire, a condition which

Buddhists define as 'nirvana', an indescribable state free of desire, suffering, or
further rebirth, in which a person simply is, and is completely at one with his
surroundings.

Buddhism is practised in Thailand by over 90% of the population.

Hierarchical Society

Thais respect hierarchical relationships.

Social relationships are defined as one person being superior to the

other.

Parents are superior to their children, teachers to their students, and

bosses to their subordinates.

When Thais meet a stranger, they will immediately try to place you
within a hierarchy so they know how you should be treated.

This is often done by asking what might be seen as very personal

questions in other cultures.

Status can be determined by clothing and general appearance, age, job,

education, family name, and social connections.
Thai Family Values

The family is the cornerstone of Thai society.

Family life is often more closely knit than in western cultures.

The Thai family is a form of hierarchy with the parents at the top.

Children are taught to honour their parents.

Thai Demeanour

Thais place great emphasis and value on outward forms of courtesy

such as politeness, respect, genial demeanour and self-control in order to
maintain harmonious relations.

Many of their rules of etiquette are by-products of the Buddhist religion.

It is a non-confrontational society, in which public dispute or criticism is

to be avoided at all costs.

To be openly angry with someone might attract the wrath of the spirits,
which in turn could cause violence and tragedy.

Openly criticizing a person is a form of violence as it hurts the person

and is viewed as a conscious attempt to offend the person being rebuked

Loss of face is a disgrace to a Thai so they try to avoid confrontations

and look for compromises in difficult situations.

If two parties disagree, one will need to have an outlet to retreat without
losing face.

Etiquette & Customs in Thailand

Meeting Etiquette

The wai (as mentioned above) is the traditional form of greeting, given
by the person of lower status to the person of higher status.

Thais generally use first rather than surnames, with the honorific title
Khun before the name. Khun is an all- purpose form of address that is
appropriate for both men and women

In general, wait for your host and hostess to introduce you to the other
guests. This allows everyone to understand your status relative to their own,
and thus know who performs the wai and how low the head should be bowed.
Gift Giving Etiquette

If invited to a Thai's home, a gift is not expected, although it will be

appreciated.

Gifts should be wrapped attractively, since appearance matters. Bows

and ribbons add to the sense of festivity.

Appropriate gifts are flowers, good quality chocolates or fruit.

Do not give marigolds or carnations, as they are associated with
funerals.

Try to avoid wrapping a gift in green, black or blue as these are used at
funerals and in mourning.

GOLD and yellow are considered royal colours, so they make good
wrapping paper.

Only use red wrapping paper if giving a gift to a Chinese Thai.

Gifts are not opened when received.

MONEY is the usual gift for weddings and ordination parties.

Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a Thai's house:

Arrive close to the appointed time, although being a few minutes late
will not cause offence.

Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours before
entering the house.

Ask another guest to confirm the dress code.

Step over the threshold rather than on it. This is an old custom that may
be dying out with younger Thais, but erring on the side of conservatism is
always a good idea.

Table manners

A fork and spoon are the usual eating utensils. However, noodles are
often eaten with chopsticks.

The spoon is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. The fork is
used to guide food on to the spoon. Sticky rice, a northern Thai delicacy, is
often eaten with the fingers of the right hand.

Most meals are served as buffets or with serving platters in the centre of
the table family- style.

You may begin eating as soon as you are served.

Leave a little food on your plate after you have eaten to show that you
are full. Finishing everything indicates that you are still hungry.

Never leave rice on your plate as it is considered wasteful. The words for
food and rice are the same. Rice has an almost mystical significance in
addition to its humdrum 'daily bread' function.

Never take the last bite from the serving bowl.

Wait to be asked before taking a second helping.

Do not lick your fingers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Thailand
Thailand's culture "incorporates a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia, and the
rest of Southeast Asia."[1]It is influenced primarily by animism, Indian culture and Buddhism.
Contents
[hide]

1Lifestyle
o

1.1Religion

1.2Customs

1.3Traditional clothing

1.4Cuisine

1.5Birth traditions and beliefs

1.6Nicknames

1.7Marriage

1.8Funerals

2Traditional arts
o

2.1Arts

2.2Music

2.3Sports

2.4Architecture

2.5Traditional games of Thailand

2.5.1Kratai kha deow (one-legged rabbit)

2.5.2Banana stalk hobby horse riding

3Holidays

4Pastimes
4.1Reading and Internet

5See also

6References

7External links

Lifestyle[edit]

Religion[edit]

Buddhist novices receiving joss sticks.

Main article: Religion in Thailand

Thailand is nearly 94%-95% Theravada Buddhist (which includes the Thai Forest Tradition and
the Dhammayuttika Nikaya and Santi Asoke sects), with minorities of Muslims (56%), Christians (1%), Mahayana Buddhists, and other religions.[2] Thai Theravada Buddhism is
supported and overseen by the government, with monks receiving a number of government
benefits, such as free use of the public transportation infrastructure.
Buddhism in Thailand is strongly influenced by traditional beliefs regarding ancestral and natural
spirits, which have been incorporated into Buddhist cosmology. Most Thai people install spirit
houses, miniature wooden houses outside their dwellings, where they believe household spirits
live. They present offerings of food and drink to these spirits to keep them happy. If these spirits
aren't happy, it is believed that they will inhabit the household and cause chaos. These spirit

houses can be found in public places and on the streets of Thailand, where the public make
offerings. [3]
Prior to the rise of Theravada Buddhism, both Indian Brahmanic religion and Mahayana
Buddhism were present in Thailand. Influences from both these traditions can still be seen in
present-day Thai folklore. Brahmanist shrines play an important role in Thai folk religion, and the
Mahayana Buddhist influence is reflected in the presence of figures like Lokesvara, a form of
the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara sometimes incorporated into Thailand's iconography.[3][4]

Customs[edit]
See also: Thai folklore

Thai greeting, the smile is an important symbol of refinement in Thai culture.

The traditional customs and the folklore of Thai people were gathered and described by Phya
Anuman Rajadhon in the 20th century, at a time when modernity changed the face of Thailand
and a great number of traditions disappeared or became adapted to modern life. Still, the striving
towards refinement, rooted in ancient Siamese culture, consisting of promoting that which is
refined and avoiding coarseness is a major focus of the daily life of Thai people and high on
their scale of values.[5]
One of the most distinctive Thai customs is the wai. Used in greetings, leave-taking, or as an
acknowledgement, it comes in many forms, reflecting the relative status of those involved.
Generally the salutation involves a prayer-like gesture with the hands, similar to the Ajali
Mudr of the Indian subcontinent, and it also may include a slight bow of the head. This

salutation is often accompanied by a serene smilesymbolizing a welcoming disposition and a

pleasant attitude. Thailand is often referred to as the "land of smiles" in tourist brochures.
Public displays of affection are not overly common in traditional Thai society, especially between
lovers.[6] It is becoming more common, especially among the younger generation.
A notable social norm holds that touching someone on the head may be considered rude. It is
also considered rude to place one's feet at a level above someone else's head, especially if that
person is of higher social standing. This is because the Thai people consider the foot to be the
dirtiest and lowliest part of the body, and the head the most respected and highest part of the
body. This also influences how Thais sit when on the groundtheir feet always pointing away
from others, tucked to the side or behind them. Pointing at or touching something with the feet is
also considered rude.

Display of respect of the younger towards the elder is a cornerstone value in Thailand. A family during
theBuddhist ceremony for young men who are to be ordained as monks.

Since a serene disposition is valued, conflict and sudden displays of anger are eschewed in Thai
culture. For these reasons, visitors should take care not to create conflict or to display anger.
Disagreements or disputes should be handled with a smile and no attempt should be made to
assign blame to another. In everyday life in Thailand, there is a strong emphasis on the concept
of sanuk; the idea that life should be fun. Because of this, Thais can be quite playful at work and
during day-to-day activities. Displaying positive emotions in social interactions is also important in
Thai culture.
Often, Thais will deal with disagreements, minor mistakes, or misfortunes by using the
phrase mai pen rai, translated as "it doesn't matter". The ubiquitous use of this phrase in
Thailand reflects a disposition towards minimizing conflict, disagreements or complaints. A smile
and the sentence "mai pen rai" indicates that the incident is not important and therefore there is
no conflict or shame involved.

Respect for hierarchy is a very important value for Thai people. The custom of bun
khun emphasizes the indebtedness towards parents, as well as towards guardians, teachers,
and caretakers. It describes the feelings and practices involved in certain relationships organized
around generalized reciprocity, the slow-acting accounting of an exchange calculated according
to locally interpreted scales and measures.[7] It is also considered rude to step on any type of Thai
currency (Thai coin or banknote) as they include a likeness of the King of Thailand.

The 1941-42 Thai cultural mandates, promulgated by Plaek Pibulsonggram, made sweeping changes in
Thai culture. Modernizationefforts discouraged the wearing of women's traditional costumes, in favour of
more modern forms of dress.

There are a number of Thai customs relating to the special status of monks in Thai society. Thai
monks are forbidden physical contact with women. Women are therefore expected to make way
for passing monks to ensure that accidental contact does not occur. A variety of methods are
employed to ensure that no incidental contact (or the appearance of such contact) between
women and monks occurs. Women making offerings to monks place their donation at the feet of
the monk, or on a cloth laid on the ground or a table. Powders or unguents intended to carry a
blessing are applied to Thai women by monks using the end of a candle or stick. Laypersons are
expected to sit or stand with their heads at a lower level than that of a monk. Within a temple,
monks may sit on a raised platform during ceremonies to make this easier to achieve.
When sitting in a temple, one is expected to point one's feet away from images of the Buddha.
Shrines inside Thai residences are arranged so as to ensure that the feet are not pointed
towards the religious icons, such as placing the shrine on the same wall as the head of a bed, if a
house is too small to remove the shrine from the bedroom entirely.
It is also customary to remove one's footwear before entering a home or the sacred areas within
a temple, and not to step on the threshold.

Traditional clothing[edit]

A woman wearing a chut Thai

Main article: Chut thai

Traditional Thai clothing is called chut thai (Thai: Thai pronunciation: [tt.taj]) which literally
means "Thai outfit". It can be worn by men, women, and children. Chut thai for women usually
consists of a pha nung or a chong kraben, a blouse, and a sabai. Northern and northeastern
women may wear a sinh instead of a pha nung and a chong kraben with either a blouse or
a suea pat. Chut thai for men includes a chong kraben or pants, a Raj pattern shirt, with optional
knee-length white socks and a sabai. Chut thai for northern Thai men is composed of a sado, a
white Manchu styled jacket, and sometimes a khian hua. In formal occasions, people may
choose to wear a so-called formal Thai national costume.

Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Thai Cuisine

Birth traditions and beliefs[edit]

Main article: Birth in Thailand
Traditional principles concerning pregnancy and childbirth are largely influenced by folk beliefs,
especially in rural areas of central andnorth Thailand. Modern practices follow the Western
medical model.

Nicknames[edit]
See also: Thai names
Thai people universally have one, or occasionally more, short nicknames (Thai: nameplay) that they use with friends and family. Often first given shortly after birth by friends or an
older family member, these nicknames are overwhelmingly one syllable [8] (or worn down from two
syllables to one). Though they may be simply shortened versions of a full name, they quite
frequently have no relation to the person's full name and are often humorous and/or nonsense
words. Babies may be given a nickname of a relative or named for a characteristic of birth, e.g.,
"little". Traditionally, nicknames would relate to things of low value, e.g., "dirt", which was to
convince evil spiritslurking in the vicinity that the child was not worthy their attention. Today this
folk custom is on the decline.
Some common nicknames translate into English as "small", "fatty", "pig", "little", "frog", "banana",
"green", or "girl/boy". Though rare, sometimes Thai children are given nicknames in the order
they were born into the family (i.e., "one", "two", "three", etc.). Nicknames are useful because
official Thai names are often long, particularly among Thais of Chinese descent, whose lengthy
surnames stem from an attempt to translate Chinese names into Thai equivalents, or among
Thai with similarly lengthy Sanskrit-derived names. In recent years, English language words have
become popular nicknames. Examples include: "Ice" (); "Bank" (); "New" (); "Ball"
(), and even "Beer" ().[8]

Marriage[edit]

A traditional wedding in Thailand.

Main article: Thai marriage

Thai Buddhist marriage ceremonies are generally divided into two parts: a Buddhist component,
which includes the recitation of prayers and the offering of food and other gifts to monks and
images of the Buddha, and a non-Buddhist component rooted in folk traditions, which centers on
the couple's families.
In former times, it was unknown for Buddhist monks to be present at any stage of the marriage
ceremony itself. As monks were required to attend to the dead during funerals, their presence at
a marriage (which was associated with fertility, and intended to produce children) was considered
a bad omen. A couple would seek a blessing from their local temple before or after being
married, and might consult a monk for astrological advice in setting an auspicious date for the
wedding. The non-Buddhist portions of the wedding would take place away from the temple, and
would often take place on a separate day.
In modern times, these prohibitions have been significantly relaxed. It is not uncommon for a visit
to a temple to be made on the same day as the non-Buddhist portions of a wedding, or even for
the wedding to take place within the temple. While a division is still commonly observed between
the "religious" and "secular" portions of a wedding service, it may be as simple as the monks
present for the Buddhist ceremony departing to take lunch once their role is complete.
During the Buddhist component of the wedding service, the couple first bow before the image of
the Buddha. They then recite certain basic Buddhist prayers or chants (typically including taking
the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts), and light incense and candles before the image. The
parents of the couple may then be called upon to "connect" them, by placing upon the heads of

the bride and groom twin loops of string or thread that link the couple together. The couple may
then make offerings of food, flowers, and medicine to the monks present. Cash gifts (usually
placed in an envelope) may also be presented to the temple at this time.
The monks may then unwind a small length of thread that is held between the hands of the
assembled monks. They begin a series of recitations of Pali scriptures intended to bring merit
and blessings to the new couple. The string terminates with the lead monk, who may connect it
to a container of water that will be "sanctified" for the ceremony. Merit is said to travel through the
string and be conveyed to the water. A similar arrangement is used to transfer merit to the dead
at a funeral, further evidence of the weakening of the taboo on mixing funerary imagery and
trappings with marriage ceremonies. Blessed water may be mixed with wax drippings from a
candle lit before the Buddha image and other unguents and herbs to create a paste that is then
applied to the foreheads of the bride and groom to create a small dot, similar to
the marking made with red ochre on Hindudevotees. The bride's mark is created with the butt
end of the candle rather than the monk's thumb, in keeping with the Vinaya prohibition against
touching women.
The highest-ranking monk present may elect to say a few words to the couple, offering advice or
encouragement. The couple may then make offerings of food to the monks, at which point the
Buddhist portion of the ceremony is concluded.
The Thai dowry system is known as the sin sodt Thai: . Traditionally, the groom will be
expected to pay a sum of money to the family, to compensate them and to demonstrate that the
groom is financially capable of taking care of their daughter. Sometimes, this sum is purely
symbolic, and will be returned to the bride and groom after the wedding has taken place.
The religious component of marriage ceremonies between Thai Muslims are markedly different
from that described above. The Imam of the local mosque, the groom, the father of the bride,
men in the immediate family, and important men in the community sit in a circle during the
ceremony, conducted by the Imam. All the women, including the bride, sit in a separate room and
do not have any direct participation in the ceremony. The secular component of the ceremony,
however, is often nearly identical to the secular part of Thai Buddhist wedding ceremonies. The
only notable difference here is the type of meat served to guests (goat and/or beef instead of
pork). Thai Muslims frequently, though not always, also follow the conventions of the Thai dowry
system.

Funerals[edit]
See also: Funeral (Buddhism)

Funeral pyre of Chan Kusalo, the patriarch-abbot of northern Thailand.

Traditionally, funerals last for at least one week. Crying is discouraged during the funeral, so as
not to worry the spirit of the deceased. Many activities surrounding the funeral are intended to
make merit for the deceased. Copies of Buddhist scriptures may be printed and distributed in the
name of the deceased, and gifts are usually given to a local temple. Monks are invited to chant
prayers that are intended to provide merit for the deceased, as well as to provide protection
against the possibility of the dead relative returning as a malicious spirit. A picture of the
deceased from his/her best days will often be displayed next to the coffin. Often, a thread is
connected to the corpse or coffin which is held by the chanting monks during their recitation; this
thread is intended to transfer the merit of the monks' recitation to the deceased. The corpse
is cremated, and the urn with the ash is usually kept in a chedi in the local temple.
Thai Chinese and Thai Muslim minorities bury their deceased according to the rituals of their
respective communities.

Traditional arts[edit]

Arts[edit]

A depiction of a white elephant[clarification needed] in 19th century Thai art.

Main article: Thai art

Thai visual arts were traditionally Buddhist. Thai Buddha images from different periods have a
number of distinctive styles. Thai temple art and architecture evolved from a number of sources,

one of them being Khmer architecture. Contemporary Thai art often combines traditional Thai
elements with modern techniques.
Literature in Thailand is heavily influenced by Indian Hindu culture. The most notable works of
Thai literature are a version of theRamayana, a Hindu religious epic, called the Ramakien,
written in part by Kings Rama I and Rama II, and the poetry of Sunthorn Phu.
There is no tradition of spoken drama in Thailand, the role instead being filled by Thai dance.
This is divided into three categories: khon,lakhon, and likay, khon being the most elaborate
and likay the most popular. Nang drama, a form of shadow play, is found in the south.

Music[edit]
Main articles: Music of Thailand and Thai dance
The Music of Thailand includes classical and folk music traditions, e.g., piphat and mor lam,
respectively) as well as string or pop music.

Sports[edit]
Thai boxing is the indigenous national sport in Thailand.[citation needed] Football is the most-watched
sport,[citation needed] particularly the Premier League.[citation needed]

Architecture[edit]
Main article: Architecture of Thailand

Thai Tradition House.

The Major part of the country's cultural legacy and reflects both the challenges of living in
Thailand's sometimes extreme climate as well as, historically, the importance of architecture to
the Thai people's sense of community and religious beliefs. Influenced by the architectural
traditions of many of Thailand's neighbors, it has also developed significant regional variation
within its vernacular and religious buildings.

Traditional games of Thailand[edit]

This section does not cite any references (sources). Please help improve this
section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and removed. (June 2015)

Kratai kha deow (one-legged rabbit)[edit]

"Kratai kha deow" or "one-legged rabbit" is a type of catch game. The catcher will call the rabbit,
and the rabbit must stand on one leg and jump or tiptoe to catch the other players and switch to
rabbit instead. This game will exercise your legs and practice balancing on one leg. The number
of players are divided into two teams, or may not have a team at all. Normally, there are two or
more players. At the first time, the player will select the rabbit or team by "rock-paper-scissors".
The loser would have to be a rabbit.
In the case of solo player, the rabbit must stand on one leg, then jump to chase and touch any
part of the body of other children who have run away. Everyone must stay within the designated
area. A player who runs out of space loses the game and must be switched to rabbit, but if the
rabbit is exhausted and cannot stand on one leg, it was that defeated and must be punished.
In team play, the rules are similar to the solo player, but the rabbit team will send a representative
to catch the other team to all the people. Those arrested will have to wait outside until the rabbit
team can catch all of the rival teams. Rabbit team can switch to teammates to catch on until they
are exhausted, and if the all of the members in rabbit team are exhausted and cannot stand on
one leg, the rabbit team lose the game and must be punished too.
Banana stalk hobby horse riding[edit]
Banana stalk hobby horse riding or "khee ma khan kluay" in Thai is a traditional game of
Thailand that Thai kids frequently played in the past. They use a banana stalk to make the parts
of a horse such as head, ear, and horsetail. The materials for making a banana rib hobby horse
are banana stalk, knife, small bamboo pin, and string. First, find a banana stalk around 1.5 m
long. Cut it in the form of the head, neck, and ears, then use a small bamboo pin to connect the
ear to the head of a horse. The remaining part of the banana stalk becomes a horsetail. Attach a
string between the head and the tail of this banana stalk horse and place on the shoulder of the
rider.
Kids sit on the horse and pretend they are riding a real horse, shouting "hee hee" or "yee haaah",
sounds typical of people on horseback. They may race with friends if they have more than two
players. The team thatRUNS FASTER is the winner.

Holidays[edit]
Main article: Public holidays in Thailand
Important holidays in Thai culture include Thai New Year, or Songkran, which is officially
observed from 1315 April each year. Falling at the end of the dry season and during the hot
season in Thailand, the celebrations notoriously feature boisterous water throwing. The water
throwing stemmed from washing Buddha images and lightly sprinkling scented water on the
hands of elderly people. Small amounts of scented talcum powder were also used in the annual
cleansing rite. In recent decades, water fights have been increasingly industrialised with use of
hoses, barrels, squirt guns, water-filled surgical tubing, and copious amounts of powder.
Loi Krathong is held on the 12th full moon of the Thai lunar calendar, usually early-November.
While not a government-observed holiday, it is nonetheless an auspicious day in Thai culture, in
which Thai people "loi", meaning "to float" a "krathong", a small raft traditionally made from
elaborately folded banana leaves and including flowers, candles, incense sticks, and small
offerings. The act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges,
anger, and defilements so that one can start life afresh on a better footing.
National Elephant Day or Chang Thai Day is a holiday in Thailand, held on March 13, which
celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the elephant in Thailand.

Pastimes[edit]

Reading and Internet[edit]

Eighty-eight percent of Thai people read books and spend an average of 28 minutes per day
doing so, according to a poll[9] conducted by the Thai Publishers and Booksellers Association
(PUBAT) and Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Economics and Research Centre for Social
and Business Development.
A total of 3,432 Thais aged 1569 in 12 provinces, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Songkhla,
Nakhon Si Thamarat, Nakhon Ratchsima, and Khon Kaen, were interviewed from December
2014 to January 2015. While 88% of Thai respondents said they read books, 12% said they did
not. They cited as reasons lack of time, bad eyesight, and dislike of reading.
Averaged over the entire population, Thais spend 28 minutes a day reading books. The reading
sub-set of the population averages 46 minutes a day. Of this group, those aged under 20 spend
the most time reading books, 56 minutes a day. That figure shrinks as people age until they
reach 61, when people tend to get back into reading.

By comparison, 71% of Thais use the Internet almost everyday for an average of 92 minutes.
Those who spend most time on the Internet are people under 20, on average 224 minutes a day,
while those over 61 spend ten minutes a day on-line.
In 2013 the Thai National Statistical Office conducted a reading survey[10] that found that Thais
aged over six spent an average of 37 minutes a day reading. The survey was not focused
specifically on reading books, but also reading journals, the Internet, tablet computers, and smart
phones.

See also[edit]

https://sites.google.com/site/thailandandireland/1-thailand/1-3-thaicommunication-styles
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Thailand.html