Thailand Culture and Traditional
Culture
Thai culture has many intricacies, most of which the average visitor will never come across, however if you are looking to live in Thailand long term, it is important to be aware of cultural differences and to know which faux pas to avoid.
Traditional Thai culture and etiquette is based around the concept of ‘face’ and pride. It is very disrespectful in Thai culture to make anyone lose face, especially in public. Other aspects of Thai culture are not so serious however, with many being focused around festivals and celebrations.
Festival
It is a festival of lights, with people sailing beautiful handmade kratongs (small boats made from banana leaf and decorated with a candle and coloured paper) down the river to carry away their bad luck. Lanterns are let off into the night sky carrying with them people’s dreams.
A Songkran festival float portaraying a Thai cultural theme
Other festivals include Buddhist lent (Khao Phansa) which is celebrated in July/August and marks a period of three month retreat for monks. They retire to the monastery for the whole of rainy season to meditate and study. The birth, enlightenment and Nirvana of the Buddha are celebrated on Visakha Bucha Day, in April/May and royal celebrations such as Coronation day and The King and Queen’s birthdays are also held throughout the year. Local festivals are held in regions throughout the country all year round.
Traditional
Thailand is a modern country firmly established in the 21st century. Despite this, there remain examples of lifestyles that have existed for centuries and continue to exist despite the advent of modernity. In and around the capital there are still a number of communities that are as they ever were - the Ban Bat community (where monk’s bowls are made) and the pottery community of Koh Kret are examples. Of course, beyond the capital traditional ways of life flourish. The hilltribes of northern Thailand are certainly communities that have resisted change, as are the seafaring communities of southern Thailand. Thailand also has a lot of communities based around occupations and trades that have profited from maintaining their traditional work approaches.
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