The exotic country of Thailand is simply enjoyinghuge popularity among vacationers from all over the world. And this year 2011 was no exception, with a record number of tourists visiting the country in the last few years.
A little bit about Thailand
Thais are naturally very friendly andpolite people who enjoy every new day, sacredly honoring centuries-old customs. They celebrate all the special dates and turn life into a joyful holiday: a carousel of positive emotions and a million radiant smiles. And regardless of why tourists come to Thailand - just for rest, for treatment, fishing or even to celebrate the New Year in Thailand, they have the right to count on impeccable comfort, cordial and friendly attitude of local residents, as well as an unforgettable paradise holiday. Thailand is the leader in terms of visits among all countries located in Southeast Asia, because it is a country that is extremely respectful to visitors. Moreover, in this truly amazing country, tourists are attracted not only by the traditions and luxurious beaches of Patong, Pattaya, Phuket and Samui, but also by thousands of Buddhist monasteries and temples, amazingly beautiful pagodas and palaces, wild nightlife with a variety of show performances, the notorious Thai massage and martial arts schools. No less interesting are the long elephant rides, numerous floating markets and exotic uninhabited islands of the Andaman Sea. However, the most striking Buddhist celebration is considered to be the New Year in Thailand, which comes several times. It will certainly be remembered by tourists for the exquisite dishes of the famous Thai cuisine, as well as colorful Buddhist celebrations, full of laughter and joy.
How to celebrate New Year in Thailand
In Thailand, New Year is celebrated three times:the main celebration takes place on December 31, the second time the New Year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar - the Eastern Chinese New Year, and the date of the change of years, which is usually celebrated no less solemnly, occurs on April 13. The traditional New Year is celebrated by Thais exclusively in the family circle, and they prepare for the celebration very carefully. Usually, a few days before the holiday, monks read special pre-New Year prayers in numerous Buddhist temples, which are called khurals. And directly on New Year's Eve, local residents usually invite a lama to their home, who conducts a special purification ritual, thus "throwing out" from the house all the bad things that have accumulated in it over the whole year. After a solemn meal, Thais usually collect various rags, leftovers, small coins, as well as a tormoy - a figurine made of special dough and painted bright red, and a hadak - a small scarf that is given as a sign of respect to guests. In the evening, all these items, according to an old Thai tradition, are taken out to a vacant lot and thrown away, saying the words: "Get out of here, evil!" After which the Thais quickly return home and continue the celebration.
Chinese New Year in Thailand
Chinese New Year in Thailand isa special holiday that takes place in an incredibly solemn and cheerful atmosphere. Moreover, the date of its celebration changes every year. On New Year's Eve, the streets of the country are filled with cheerful jokers and jesters dressed in bright funny costumes, who are simply drowned out by the explosions of endless luxurious fireworks and numerous firecrackers. Traditional attributes of the Chinese New Year are: lions, dragons and red paper lanterns, which are usually hung on all houses and streets. In general, the Chinese New Year in Thailand is celebrated for three whole days - Chui, Chuer, and Chusan, each of which is a special holiday and is celebrated especially solemnly. On these days, people have fun and enjoy life, go to visit and various entertainment events.
Thai New Year
Thai New Year - "Songkran", whichApril 13th is a very different holiday from other holidays, and on this day it is customary to go to the temple, offering monks various delicious dishes, fresh fruits, and new robes, which act as a special sign of veneration, playing a special role in the philosophy of Buddhism. For Europeans, celebrating the New Year in April is one of the most unusual holidays, because the change of year in the spring is a very mysterious event. Residents of Thailand pass on, from generation to generation, an ancient legend that explains why the change of year occurs in the spring, according to which one boy, who understands the language of birds and animals, made a bet with the God of Fire.
According to this bet, the boy had toanswer three difficult questions that God asked, if he gave even one wrong answer, he would have to lose his head, and if he managed to answer, then the God of Fire would lose his head. At first, the boy was in despair and at the end of the week he was ready to commit suicide, but when he heard how the eagle told her chick about this dispute, telling him all the correct answers to the god's questions, he realized that he had won the dispute thanks to his magical gift. The delighted young man answered all the questions, and the God of Fire was forced to cut off his head, which the boy placed in a basket and hid in a distant cave in order to prevent drought, drying up of the sea and burning of the whole world. Every first day, from this day on, the daughters of the God of Fire perform a special ritual - they take the basket outside, thus paying tribute to God, who is considered the center of the universe. The daughters make 3 circles around the earth, after which they bring the basket back to the cave. It is for this reason that the first few days of the New Year in Thailand are very hot - about +40 degrees in the shade. Thailand has a huge number of unusual and quite interesting customs. For example, going to such an exotic country as Thailand, tourists can not only celebrate the New Year three times, but also when the New Year in Thailand ends, there is an opportunity to go windsurfing, exotic fishing, take part in funny shows that give a feeling of a luxurious holiday. Tourists can visit one of the most famous tropical gardens in the world - Nong Nooch, which has the largest water park in Thailand, ride elephants in the jungle, visit huge crocodile farms and walk through blooming gardens where exotic plants grow and bright tropical butterflies flutter. This wonderful and exotic country awaits vacationers all year round and, regardless of the tour chosen by vacationers, vacation in Thailand will be remembered for a long time, because Thailand is "paradise on Earth". We recommend reading:
