Traditions of Thailand

Even Ronald McDonald greets with a wai in Thailand!

Status, class, seniority and all reflected in the traditional Wai gesture. It acts as a greeting, farewell, prayer or apology. To many, it is Thais’ way of saying “hello”. Children are brought up to respect the elders and it is customary for a younger person to bow to a senior. Thus, the lower rank person has to initiate the wai first. Press your palms together, with fingers pointing upward as though in prayer and then incline your head forward in salutation. The greater the difference in rank, the lower the head is inclined and the higher the wai should be. Seniors can acknowledge such gesture with a smile or return the wai, but without lowering the head. Apart from greeting each other with the Wai gesture, Thais address elders by adding a “Pi” before their names and a “Nong” for children.

There is no Thai official costumes although there are unofficial “national costumes” based on traditional styles depending whether it is a formal and informal occasions. For women, this is a full-length dress called the paisin. Made of Thai silk, it is worn like a sarong with a long sleeved silk blouse. Coloured silk sash will be worn from left shoulder to right side of waist for formal occasions. For men, a white short long sleeved cotton or silk jacket with a very high neck and no collar, called a sua phra ratchathan is worn. Coloured silk cummerbund is added on formal occasions. Since appearance reflects one’s status, Thais do not wear tattered or revealing clothes. Generally, men wear long trousers and button shits and women  with blouses or pants and sarongs.

Traditions are changing, in the context of genders in Thailand. Arranged marriages are no longer a common sight and men are increasingly involved in household responsibilities. Women used to ignore or tolerate adultery, but now, they have the capability to confront their spouse personally and legally. There is also a rapid decrease of wives begging the forgiveness of their husbands in New Year’s ceremony, which used to be an ancient practice. Experts think that the key to such gender dynamics change is polygamy. In the early 1920s when King Vajiravudh introduced reforms, polygamy came to be seen as a symbol of the country’s backwardness and violation of Buddhist precepts. Even though having multiple wives is still practice among the rich and influential Thais, it is no longer socially acceptable as how it used to be.

Buddhism really does have a huge impact on the Thais’ lives. About 50% of young Thai males undertake vows of a minimum of 3 years monkhood before the age of 18. This is also a tradition of Buddhist families. This can bring merit to the whole family as they learn about Buddhist history and philosophy. Some of the Thai kings had also become monks for short periods of time. Thais like to perform good deeds so as to gain merits, and this can be in monetary or non-monetary forms. They will present food, money and gifts to the monks, buy a caged bird and set it free afterwards, or even build a temple if their financial ability allows so. However, women are not allowed to have any physical contact, verbal communication or even offer gifts to a monk, thus having to make ways when they cross each other’s paths.

When you visit a Buddhist temple, do exercise due respect such as observing their dress code. Men who wear shorts with T-shirt and women wearing sleeveless tops or shorts will be denied entry. It is also mandatory for one to take off their footwear before entering a temple or house. Buddha images are sacred and are to be treated with respect. Hence, avoid taking photos while standing in front of the statues as it is deem as sacrilege.  

Ratchaphruek is Thailand’s national flower and is yellow in colour because it represents the colour of Buddhism and Thai royalty. It blooms annually from February to May. Roots, bark and leaves of the trees are all used in herbal medicines. In addition, elephant is also considered as Thailand’s national animal. It is a symbol of peace, wisdom, strength and longevity. The white elephant is a sacred animal and is often seen as a royal symbol in court celebrations and ceremonies. Their death is regarded as an omen of tragedy. It is widely represented in sculptures and paintings throughout Thailand. It was also featured on the Siamese national flag until 1917.

Thai traditional massage is known to ease body aches, mental stress and is a holistic approach to attain inner tranquillity. The key to attaining such results is by focusing on the energy that flows along designated channels (sen) in the body. Through the use of reflexology and stretching, blockages are reduced and imbalances in the sen are restored. In order to ensure traditional massage skills are being passed on to the younger generation, Wat Po Thai Traditional Medical School in Bangkok offers such courses.

Even though Thailand adopted the sophisticated Western medical care system, it still practices traditional Thai healing, particularly in the rural areas. In the past, Thai traditional practitioners of different regions do not communicate much, leading to unique healing techniques, names and categories of medicine being developed over the years. For instance, Turmeric is a primary ingredient in Thai healing. It is also used for cosmetics and treatment for stomach ailments. In addition, the lemongrass, known to contain aromatic stress relieving properties serves as a medical herb to solve headaches.