Culture, Customs & Traditions of Thailand

The following texts and images are taken from Thailand: Traits and Treasures, published by The National Identity Board, ©2005 by Office of The Permanent Secretary, The Prime Minister’s Office, Royal Thai Government, ISBN 974-9771-52-4 (without footnotes and annotations).

Sanook (or: sanuk) Most prominent among the cultural traits of Thai society is sanuk, an essential ingredient of the Thai way of life. More... Phra Sayam Thewathirat The Thai people believe that Phra Sayam Thewathirat is a Deva-guardian, or supreme deity, safeguarding the Nation, the King and the Royal Family. More... The national symbols of Thailand Thailand’s best-known national symbol, the elephant, has been associated with the Thai people for centuries. More... Sex in Thai culture In America, you can say anything but you can't do it. In Thailand, you can do anything but you can't talk about it. More...

The Thai monarchy The Thai people have an invaluable cultural heritage that their forefathers had diligently created and maintained for posterity to be proud of. More... Archaeology and history What is now Thailand has been home to a number of ethnic groups since the dawn of human history. More... Traditional sports: Takraw - The rattan ball game Takraw is played in various versions, in most parts of Southeast Asia, but perhaps nowhere else with the enthusiasm and vigour shown by the Thais. More... Traditional Thai sports: Muay Thai - Thai boxing Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, the most favorite martial arts of the Thai has been in existence for almost as long as the Thai themselves. More...

H. M. the King’s birthday anniversary In the past, Thailand did not have any distinct royal ceremonies to celebrate the monarch’s birthday anniversary, as is practised nowadays. More... The role of Thai women: Queen Sirikit Understanding the many facets of the role of Thai women broadens and deepens foreign readers’ knowledge about Thai culture. More... The role of Thai women in broad perspective Rooted in an agrarian society, culture and economy, Thai women have played vital roles throughout the kingdom’s history. More... The Royal Ploughing Ceremony The Ploughing Ceremony marks the start of the season when paddy land is prepared for rice cultivation. More...

Thai food It is probably not an easy task for anyone to trace back the history of Thai food. More... Thai herbs and spices Herbs and spices are almost synonymous with Thai food. The more the herbs, the more spicy the food. More... Thai fruits For hundreds of year ,Thai fruits and the life of the Thai people have been interwoven. More... Thai handicrafts Thai handicrafts are the products of intricate creativity and long held heritage of the Thai people in various parts of the country. More...

The Royal Kathin Ceremony Kathin is a Pali word for the wooden frame used to measure length and width by which the robes of Buddhist monks are cut. More... Royal processions In history, royal processions were, first and foremost, to display might and discourage the enemy. More... Royal processions on land As of yore, royal processions on land were composed of elephants, horses and troops marching. More... The Royal Barge Suphannahong The Royal Barge Suphannahong is known worldwide as a masterpiece of Thai cultural heritage. More... Religions in Thailand Every Thai constitution since 1932 has provided that a person shall have complete freedom to profess any religion. More... Thai architecture Since historical time, Thai architecture has been grouped into three categories: Buddhist temples and their monasteries, palaces, and houses. More... The Grand Palace The Grand Palace was the principal residence of the king and the royal family as well as the premise of the royal household in the past. More...

OTOP - Souveniers from Thailand One Tambon One Product [OTOP] development strategy at subdistrict level has been launched by the Royal Thai Government, as of the year 2004. More... Thai literature Thai literature has had a long history. Even before the establishment of the Sukhothai Kingdom there existed oral and written works. More... Thai legends and folkstales Legends and Folktales customarily consist of tales and stories handed down from generations to generations. More... Traditional performing arts in Thailand The traditional performing arts in Thailand provide an excellent insight into Thai cultural identity and its rich variety. More... Traditional Thai music Traditional Thai music has characteristics of both art and science. It has finally become a vital element of the Thai way of life. More... Festivals of Thailand Yala is an ancient city with a history of coexisting cultures where Thai, Muslim and Chinese communities live in harmony. More... Traditional sports: Kite flying Kite-flying has been a sport favoured by Thais since ancient times, during the period when the southwest monsoon blows, between March and May. More...

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