Thai Language Thailand has had the Thai language as the national language for a long time. It has been gradually developed from time to time. Up to the year 1943, when Thai people met each other they didn’t have specific greetings; they mostly just smiled and greeted with simple sentences such as ‘Where are you going,’ or ‘Have you eaten yet?’ reflecting friendliness and goodwill.
Muay Thai Muay Thai or Thai boxing is one of national martial arts of Thailand using five limbs of the body as weapons (or in Muay’s language called ‘Nawa-Awut’) in fighting such as hands (including fists, palms, arms), feet (including legs and shins), knees, elbows, and head. A typical attire of Thai boxers includes binding of ropes around their hands and arms. Muay or boxing is very popular in Southeast Asia.
Loy Krathong Day Loy Krathong is one of the most important and identifying ceremonies of Thai people. It is done on full moon of the twelfth lunar month (full moon night of November). On this day, people will create “Krathongs” which are in the form of a lotus figure made up of several materials such as banana leaves, banana trunks, flowers, and colorful paper.
Songkran Day Songkran day or Thai’s New Year day is on 13th of April every year. The word ‘Songkran’ or ‘Sang-kran’ in Sanskrit meant to move or change. In the past, when Thailand and Burma still counting years based on ‘Jullasakkarat’ (=Thai minor era) or calculating by astrological principle, they hold the time when the sun moving to Aries for one degree or 1st Waxing moon of the fifth lunar month to be New Year day.
Banana Rib Hobby Horse Riding Khee-ma-kan-kuay (Banana Rib Hobby Horse Riding) is a traditional game that Thai kids frequently played in the past. Parents use banana leaves from banana trees which planted around the house area and in the garden to invent a toy for their children. Apart from having fun from playing this game, children benefit from strong health activity it provides which includes the following:
Boon Kao-lalm Since Buddhism is a national religion of Thailand, Thais observe many Buddhist holidays and religious traditions. Many of those traditions are very interesting and have their own identities. Some of which still emanated way back during the early centuries and some originated from their geographical, racial, traditional differences. Thailand is composed of many different races of people. However, they have combined their own traditions with Buddhist traditions very well. This contributes to the many charms of the kingdom of Thailand.
Boon Bungfai Boon Bungfai is a great traditional ceremony of people in the north-eastern region of Thailand. It is often arranged in the sixth or seventh lunar month (equivalent to ____ in English Calendar). The history of this tradition most likely comes from a folk legend “Pha- Dang Nang-I”’ (Prince Pha-dang and woman named Lai) telling about the shooting of Bungfai (a type of rocket) into the sky dedicated to Phaya Than, a known god of rain.
Visakha Puja Day Visakha Puja day or Buddha day is a very important day of the Buddhist religion to commemorate the day that the Buddha was born, attained of enlightenment, and passed away. Tracking back to the last life of Lord Buddha as being human; it’s the origin of Visakha Puja ceremony. He was born into the Indian royal family as Prince Siddhattha in Lumpini Park on Friday of full moon of the sixth lunar month, in the year 623 B.C.
Phee-ta-Khon (Ghost Festival of Thailand) Phee-ta-khon is one of the amazing traditional performances in ‘Boon Luang’ festival or ‘Boon Pha-wed’ festival which is the main Buddhist festival of Amphur Dan-sai, Loei province. This festival is arranged around the seventh lunar month every year. Besides being created for people’s amusement this festival is considered as the harbinger of fertility too. In this festival there are a lot of Bungfai parades to worship Phaya Than to ask for rain.
Papaya Pok-Pok: Mystery “Pok’s” behind the Toast of Thailand When I ask for noteworthy appetizing Thai foods, nothing surface first than the instinctive palate of “Papaya Pok-Pok”. I had a queer chance meeting Khun Poo, a local vendor who travels 20 kilometers back and forth every morning just to catch the freshly harvested Papaya in downtown. For her, the significant taste of Papaya comes at its best when the liquid extract is still abundant. After carefully selecting fine young green papayas, Khun Poo thinly peel and grate it in a thin elongated stick-like shape easily done by local grating device.
