Many visitors to Thailand are quickly struck by the visible expressions of Thai culture: the graceful Thai wai, the subtle bowing of the head, the disarming smile, and the deferential manner in which guests to their country are treated.
They notice the Buddha images everywhere, from their taxi’s dashboard, to the ones being waied by drivers along the road, to the many icons in the countless temples throughout the country, and they rightly surmise that Buddhism plays a large role in the construction of their culture, made manifest in their manner.
Although the Buddhist religion does indeed inform the lion’s share of Thai culture, there are many other contributing factors that are fascinating to explore, to investigate, and to learn about that will truly amaze you, and increase your appreciation of the depth and complexity of Thai culture.
Those wanting to delve into this subject should start with some Web searches along these lines, followed by the reading of several books on the subject. The perfect plan to build a holiday with Thai culture at its core would be to first look at a list of Thai holidays, read about them, and then plan your trip based on visiting Thailand during one or more of these holidays.
Many tourists are aware of the major holidays such as the exciting water festival that is Songkran in mid-April, and the lovely Loi Kratong festival that comes towards the end of the year. Both are well worth experiencing, but every holiday, and indeed every ceremony – including births, weddings, and funerals – are fascinating and educational in their own right, and should be experienced whenever possible.
Of course, one cannot plan ahead to see some of these ceremonies, but by spending more time in Thailand during your holiday, and getting out into the country, you can greatly increase your chances of personally experiencing some of these unique rituals. There are also specific dates for a number of lesser known ceremonies that are equally intriguing and lovely to witness, such as the beginning of Buddhist Lent (“khao pansa”), when monks enter the temple for three months; and the end of Buddhist Lent (“awk pansa”), when their “rains retreat” has finished.
These type of rituals and ceremonies are best experienced “upcountry,” in either Thailand’s northern or northeastern regions. Isan, the largely rural northeastern region of Thailand, is truly a land of tradition: of ceremonies, rituals, processions and a strong belief in the efficacy of performing the right ceremony at the appropriate time, of adhering to the old ways and respecting both old people and the deceased. In fact, it could well be called the “Land of Tradition.”
In the north and northeast, you will also be able to more fully explore the rich artistic traditions of the different regions. The local OTOP (One Tambon (district) One Product) shops will give you a good indication of the particular specialties of each region, be it textile weaving, metalworking, pottery, puppet making, basketry, woodcarving, winemaking, or a wide variety of other arts and crafts.
These skills are typically passed on from generation to generation, so you will be able to visit whole villages that specialize in specific items, and choose the places to visit according to your interests. For example, if you’re a lover of Thai textiles, you may want to head to Korat, or Nong Khai, in Thailand’s northeast. If woodcarving and custom-made furniture or more to your liking, you will find Ban Tawai just outside Chiang Mai simply amazing in both its depth and variety.
Finally, don’t forget the ceremonial holidays, for which you can easily find the dates and places. Chinese New Year is a great time to visit, and if you’re in the north, this time will also coincide with a number of the mountain people’s new year’s celebrations, such as Lisu New Year, Lahu New Year, and so on, which are a truly memorable experience, and very easy to arrange from Chiang Mai.
The Rocket Festival in Yasothon is another exciting festival that some visitors will surely enjoy, as well as the Elephant Roundup in nearby Surin. And if you’re up that way around the beginning of July, you won’t want to miss Thailand’s surreal version of Halloween: the Phi Ta Khon, or Ghost Festival in Dan Sai district of Loei province.
Through a combination of time spent traveling around and exploring Thailand, village visits, ceremonies and holidays, and plenty of observation, it won’t be long before you begin to get a grasp on the nebulous, yet very real, concept of Thai culture. Over time, your appreciation of all its subtleties will grow, as it slowly becomes an implicit part of you as well.
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