What are Thai etiquette?

"Bai" to express respect and greetings

Thai people are not used to shaking hands, hugging and kissing, so the etiquette for showing respect and greetings to others is "Bai" (called "WAI" by Thais) ): Put your hands together, raise them to your head, place your fingers in front of your chin, and make a slight bow with your head. At the same time as "Bai", you can say the greeting: "Sawali Ka" (meaning "Hello!"). "Bow" is only used to worship Buddha statues, monks, elders, parents, officials, doctors, teachers and people with higher social status than oneself, but not to friends, waiters, servants, drivers and strangers.
When Thai people walk in front of others, they must bow to show courtesy; when entering Buddhist temples and houses, they must take off their shoes first and not step on the threshold; they cannot point at people or objects with their feet, open or close doors.

Novice monks’ ordination ceremony

After Thai boys reach the age of seven, they must be ordained and become novice monks for a period of time. Before the tonsure ceremony, one must learn the tonsure etiquette and novice precepts. The tonsure ceremony is held in the temple, and the boy may stay as a novice monk in the temple for a few months, or return to secular life in three or five days.
In Thailand, it is the most important thing for a young man to become a monk. Otherwise, he is not considered a mature man, and becoming a monk can be postponed until the age of 20 or before marriage. You can decide how long you want to be a monk, whether it is two weeks, half a year or more.

Wedding etiquette

Thai weddings are more complicated than those of the Dai people in Xishuangbanna. They have to wear a double wedding veil, sprinkle water, worship ancestors and gods, make the bed, keep the bridal chamber and enter the bridal chamber. Waiting ceremony. Double happiness yarn circles, also called auspicious yarn circles, are two circles made of yarn, as big as the mouth of a bowl. There is also a holy yarn connecting the two yarn circles and the holy water bowl, and then leads to the hands of each monk participating in the wedding. . The Double Happiness yarn hoop should be put on the bride and groom's heads by the wedding host or the elders of both parties before the water-sprinkling ceremony, and then sprinkled with water to worship the ancestors and gods. There are agreed upon ritual procedures for making the bed, keeping the bridal chamber, and finally entering the bridal chamber. Modern Thai wedding ceremonies are simplified and usually completed within one day, so the groom no longer stays at the bridal chamber.

Tattoo custom

In the past, most Thai men had the habit of getting tattoos. They believe that tattoos are a sign of male maturity and charisma, which can win the admiration of women; they can also prevent insect and snake bites; they can prevent diseases, and even be invulnerable and protected by gods. During the Bangkok Dynasty, tattoos were also a symbol of civilian status, and some gangs also used tattoos as contact marks. The patterns on the tattoos were mostly gods, beasts, flowers and plants, etc. Recently, some young Thai women like to tattoo small patterns on their hands, arms, chests, backs, etc. to show their beauty. Because the process of tattooing is very painful, the number of people getting tattoos is gradually decreasing.

Protective Buddha

In Thailand, every Buddhist family has a Buddhist altar, and housewives must light candles in the morning and evening to worship. Many Thai people hang a small Buddha statue on a chain around their neck as an amulet, believing that it can protect themselves from evil and bring good luck. There are vendors all over Thailand selling various large and small Buddha statues, but when buying a Buddha statue, you cannot "buy", but say "please". No matter where you place the Buddha statue, you must show respect and cannot be disrespectful. words and actions, because Thailand is a country where Buddhism is the national religion.