Cultures and Traditions

Thai Culture

The Thai culture as we see today is formed from ethnic groups that have migrated to Thailand a long time ago and it is still being followed and put into practice today. The culture of the Thais are represented in various arts such as music, dance, murals, sculptures, woodworks, decorations and architecture forms. In short, Thai culture is significant in the behaviour, customs and beliefs of the Thai people today.

Thai culture is basically Buddhism. And this religious belief has two principal theme. That is firstly, to be able to understand the difference between reality and self diffusion and secondly, to understand the nature of cause and effect which is literary to understand whatever one does now will have implications later, not only in the very short term, but the very long term.

In Thai culture, people are to properly differentiate what they really need and not just focusing on what they desire. They are taught to be disciplined and such desires for things that are deemed as a 'want' is shown as a 'weakness' in Thai culture. Just like any other culture, the importance of respect is also being stressed. Examples of this respect are, not to shout at others, not to talk at some one, rather talk to them, not to impose on another with meaningless and convoluted talk [ thus wasting their time ], not to defame someone and respect their property in their own good name. Defamation is a crime in Thailand.

Important Thai Festivals

Songkran Festival in mid April

In Thailand, the Tai Lao in Laos, and the Buddhist communities in Cambodia and Myanmar, the Calender New Year is occasioned between 13 and 15 April each year. The Thais celebrate the festival and the obvious way of doing it is by the throwing of water. Thais roam around the streets with water guns, buckets of water and drench each other as well as passer-by.

Loy Krathong Festival



Loy Krathong Festival is celebrated in all of Thailand in November. Loy Krathong celebrates the end of the rainy season which is also the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai Lunar Calendar. Loy means to float and Krathong or means a raft the sive of ones open hand. The point of the festival is to prepare a raft and then float it down a stream, river or other water surface at full moon. Offering are placed on the raft to be released and float away by water to release with it as a symbolic gester, ones bad feelings, anger, stress and grievances.

The festival has its beginnings in the Indianisation process of South East Asia and an original Brahmanical festival from Northern India. Many Thais also accept natural forces as spirits or '' gods '' and the floating of the Krathong is symbolic gesture to the Goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha. The Thais proclaim the festival originated in Thailand at Sukhothai at the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom.

Thai Food

Thai cuisine places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. Thai cuisine is known for being spicy. Balance, detail and variety are important to Thai cooking. Thai food is known for its balance of the five fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: hot or spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter.

The most famous and well-known Thai dish that springs to everyones' mind when visiting Thailand would be Tom Yam Kung. It is also know as spicy shrimp soup. Tom yum is characterized by its distinct hot and sour flavors, with fragrant herbs generously used. The basic broth is made of stock and fresh ingredients such as lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce and crushed chili peppers.



As we can see, the Thai uses a lot of spices and condiments for their local dish.

What comprises a Thai meal

We may wonder what makes Thai cuisine so special and now lets take a look at what a Thai meal comprises of:

Tit bits

These are small side dishes before the Thai indulge in their meal.

Salads

Thai salads mostly taste sour, sweet, and salty. The type of meat used in salad will depend on the type of occasion.

General Fare

It is either a sweet and sour or a stir-fried dish to complete a meal

Dips

Dips are a thick paste made and it accompanies vegetables and some meat

Soups

Thai soups are unique because they embody more flavours and textures than can be found in other types of food.

Curry

Thai curry consist of fresh herbs unlike other curries that is made from curry powders.

Single Dish

They are the main dish that complete the meal. it could be a noodle or rice meal

Desserts

Thai dessert is uniquely sweet and it is best served after one has eaten a strongly spiced herbal meat.