Festive events in Thailand are unlike most western festive events in that they can consist in equal measure of fun and seriousness. They are meant to be fun – even the ones based on religious dates or rituals – because sanuk (fun) has to be part of everyday life. Visitors are always welcome to join in, are, in fact, actively encouraged to join in., whether the event be seasonal or sacred. Nearly always there will be a firework display.
Not only do the Thais celebrate their own festivals, but they have a habit of expropriating foreign festivals as well, as it is another excuse for a party. Hence, Christmas, New Year and Hallowe'en have all been absorbed into the party calendar in Thailand.
Nature Festivals
As agriculture has dominated Thai life for so many years, it is not surprising to find that festivals making offerings to the forces of nature and to the spirits that guard the land, are well to the fore. Other festivals give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to ensure future prosperity and can be compared to our Harvest Festivals (same ceremony, different God).although theirs will have much more in the way of music and dancing. Timing for these celebrations will be dictated by practical considerations of planting, harvesting, ploughing, sowing etc. and it is during the inbetween periods that the celebrations will take place.
Cavalcades and Competitions
Processions often form the main spectacle of a Thai festival when the participants escort Buddha images or people dressed as sacred or historical figures, in a parade There will be elaborate motorised or hand-drawn floats with figures atop often ornately carved and gilded for the occasion. Marching Bands are also popular, although they never seem to have had enough time to practice the tunes they play!
Competitions are always fun and the prizes awarded are usually precented by the Mayor or a local bigwig, prizes for best of a whole range of sports, baking, and crafts.
Temple Fairs
Less often seen in the cities nowadays, but temple fairs in rural and small urban areas are always very popular and will continue well into the night. There will usually be a small fairground in the area, sideshows, prize shooting and hoop-la, an amateur boxing-ring may be set up (for Muay Thai boxing) and there will be singing contests.
Shopping and Eating
Food stalls will be in abundance, for it is not possible for Thais to go for more than an hour or two without eating. They don't overeat, ever, but they do like to nibble continuously at food, or sip noodle soup through a sraw worked into a plastic bag. Sampling regional dishes is a major draw for the Thais and many stock on on these goods to take home as gifts.There will also be local crafts, textiles, herbal products, clothing and other consumer goods to buy.
If you find yourself near a festival in Thailand, whether it be religious or secular, just tag along for the ride and enjoy it. You will make many friends if you sample the food with them, especially local food, maybe fried crickets, or foods they know we don't have on our menus. Show you are unafraid – it may taste strange but with enough chillies in it, you might not even notice!
Mari Nicholson - Award Winning travel writer and historian, member of British Guild of Travel Writers.Travelwriters.co.uk, and Society of Women Writers and ...
