Thailand is a Southeast Asian country. It's known for tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins and ornate temples displaying figures of Buddha. In Bangkok, the capital, an ultramodern cityscape rises next to quiet canalside communities and the iconic temples of Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew). Nearby beach resorts include bustling Pattaya and fashionable Hua Hin. Thailand, which has about the same land area as Spain or France, consists of two broad geographic areas: a larger main section in the north and a smaller peninsular extension in the south. The main body of the country is surrounded by Myanmar (Burma) to the west, Laos to the north and east, Cambodia to the southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. Peninsular Thailand stretches southward from the southwestern corner of the country along the eastern edge of the Malay Peninsula; Myanmar extends along the western portion of the peninsula as far as the Isthmus of Kra, after which Thailand occupies the entire peninsula until reaching its southern border with Malaysia at roughly latitude 6° N.
Thailand: Culture and Tradition
Family, Beliefs and Status
When we say Thailand family culture is really strong, we mean it. Family matters and it’s one of the most important values of the Thai culture. For the Thais, family almost always comes first. For them, they treat their cousins as brothers and sistersso if you’re shocked by the number of siblings a Thai person has, it could mean that those are their cousins.
Also, it’s normal for extended families to live close to each other. And even if Thais move away for work, they maintain strong links with their home villages. Thai family culture really shows how strong their relationship is.
Here’s another Thailand culture fact: they strongly believe in ghosts and Thais are very superstitious. For instance, they believe that if you call a baby cute, a ghost will take the baby away. Thais also give babies a nickname to trick evil spirits that may want to steal the baby.
Believe it or not, status is a huge thing in Thailand culture. A person’s status is perceived through age, family, job, education, connections, and income levels. When a group of people is socializing or hanging out, the Thailand traditional practice is the highest earner in the group will pay the bill.
Music, Arts and Literature
The Thailand art and culture is one of the things travelers love about the country. Beyond showing a masterpiece, it also has a rich history behind every art piece. Traditional Thailand art and culture is mostly composed of Buddhist art and scenes from the Indian epics, similar with the other styles from Southeast Asia, such as Khmer. You can see some of the most amazing art pieces at Bangkok arts and culture center.
When it comes to literature in Thailand art and culture scene, poems are the most popular. The Suphasit Phra Ruong, the oldest known poem, was written in the late 1200s. The two most popular traditional Thai music are luk thung and mor lam. Even though Thailand was never colonized by Western powers,European and American music influenced modern pop music in Thailand.
Religion
Theravada Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand and remains a strong element in Thailand religion and culture that draws on influences from Hinduism and animism. The second major religion in Thailand is Islam, and lastly, Christianity, which is said to be less than 1% of the Thailand population.
Clothing
The traditional Thailand clothing is called chut thai, which literally means “Thai outfit.” It can be worn by men, women, and children. There are several types of chut Thai for women, each has different styles, garments, patterns, and accessories. Some Thai outfits can be worn at any formal occasion, while others are typically more associated with particular events. The chut thai for women are: Ruean Ton, Chakkri, Siwalai, Boromphiman, Chitlada, Amarin, Chakkraphat, and Dusit.
Celebrations
The Land of Smiles may be popular for its Thailand culture and tradition, beautiful tourist spots to see (including some UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Thailand), and oh-so-good cuisine, but it also boasts some of the most colorful festivals in Southeast Asia.
Best Places to visit in Thailand
No comments:
Post a Comment