[!!Aaroncheg]

yes, it's an international school, the management is farang but the staff and colleagues and kids I'm talking about are 80% Thai. all these organisational aspects of birthdays are managed by Thai staff and Thai parents, as they can communicate with each other much more easily. I think having fun is in line with Thai traditions, so I don't think it's against traditional ways. my guess is that they were or are reluctant to celebrate birthdays and especially give/receive presents because that focuses on individuals and puts one person in the centre of attention, instead of being more of a community and sharing occasion. as it was mentioned above, Thais tend to invite others to celebrate instead of being invited by friends, that sounds to me like a local adaptation of birthdays as we know them.