[Ingeborga]

I have couple of Thai calendars, and notice quite a few holidays when Thais don`t work...but I can not remember them, and my Nooch scolds me for it.. when we chat on line, and I ask her why she is at home, not in her office?...But what is Thais` favorite holiday, one they enjoy most?...is it Songkran?..King`s birthday?..Queens birthday?.....or their own birthday?...Also where does Thai calendar originates, since their New Year Day comes out in April?...I thought it is same as Chinese ..but not quite...Chinese have different calendar...any other country has Thai calendar?...

[Mjyzpzph]

Thailand's calendar is based on the Buddhist and the calendars of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Sri Lanka are similar but not exactly the same.

The calendar is a solar calendar, that used in China is lunisolar. Prior to 1912 (I think that's the correct year?) Thailand used a lunar calendar.

David

[Ingeborga]

Thanks David for that information....And what is Thais most popular holiday-in your opinion?...

[Mjyzpzph]

I think my wife would say 'Happy New Year', the one that is the change between December/January not Songkran. I was there for it a couple of years back but we had to delay the party until January 2nd because of the non-availability of suitable trains after my Dec 27th arrival until the night train of Jan 1/2 - and we booked tickets at the end of November. All being well I will be out there for Christmas and New Year later in the year.

David

[Ingeborga]

O.k....Now that you mention Christmass, in my wife`s school they celebrate this holiday, but this is a Christian denominational school, head dean is an american,...but wonder how many Thais -being Buddhists-actually celebrate this holiday...i know that hey have Christmass greeting cards in stores there,...but how many Thais actualy are sending them to each others?

[ireleda]

They do not really celebrate Xmas, but do recognize it, same as every new year, and anything else for an excuse for a party,, They can get just as drunk at a funeral as at a wedding or a new years [anyones], you might check that Fathers Funeral Album in my forki link, I thing we got a few of the drunks passed out and laying around, some only stopped drinking when they passed out and didn't start again until they woke up, this went on for 5 days, and nights..
I stayed away from it most of the time because the drunk Thai are just as Racist as the sober Thai, but will show it more readily when drunk, I did knock one down to get away from him and came home and stayed there, which is just next door.

[markshome23]

I would say Thais' favourite holiday is Loy krathong.

[JosephEL]

I have couple of Thai calendars, and notice quite a few holidays when Thais don`t work...but I can not remember them, and my Nooch scolds me for it.. when we chat on line, and I ask her why she is at home, not in her office?

For people who want to know when the Thais are on holiday for 2008, you can see a list here. To answer your question as to which holiday they like the best. I think they like any holiday that allows them a day off work. Though these days more and more Thai people are complaining about the dangers surrounding Songkran.

[Ingeborga]

Thanks Betty for your comment...I have a mouse pad that Nooch sent me, with illustration of that holiday-the Loy Kratong,...not sure whats it all about, only read it has something to do with full moon,..but it looks nice an serene..

[textarchive]

Thanks Betty for your comment...I have a mouse pad that Nooch sent me, with illustration of that holiday-the Loy Kratong,...not sure whats it all about, only read it has something to do with full moon,..but it looks nice an serene..

Quick explanation of Loy Kratong here

[Thifiadardivy]

Hi Richard, could you kindly enlighten when you say "Thai people are complaining about the dangers surrounding Songkran" and wat is the dangers they are refering to???

[Mjyzpzph]

Hi Richard, could you kindly enlighten when you say "Thai people are complaining about the dangers surrounding Songkran" and wat is the dangers they are refering to???

I suggest you read this thread.

David

[Buhoutsoupfap]

hunsolo said - " I have a mouse pad that Nooch sent me, with illustration of that holiday-the Loy Kratong,...not sure whats it all about, only read it has something to do with full moon,..but it looks nice an serene.."

Hey Hunsolo, I can't believe you're married to a Thai lady and know so little about Thai customs and culture! The questions you ask are so basic, they give the impression that you have never bothered to find out even the most elementary things about the person you married. How can that be?!

[Ingeborga]

Well,....I am too bussy LOVING her and caring for her, to learn about Thai holidays...By the way ask evarage Thais on the street, or even a Thai spouse of an American what is 4th. July in U.S., see how many will know?..or better yet, ask them what is 26th. May in U.S.?...this holiday would equal Loy Kratong in importance to Americans...Oh and by the way do you know what is 26th. May in U.S.?...

[Arkadiyas]

To be fair...that is only the 26th this year... and are you aware that most nations have a memorial day to honor soldiers?

I think it's a fair question as to why you're not aware of Loy Kratong. Even being on these forums as long as you have you would have come across this. But maybe you've been too busy LOVING on us as well.

[Ingeborga]

And where did I state that i "was not aware of Loy Kratong"?...if I had not not been aware of it, would I have even had mentioned it?...I said in my comments that I did not know what it means, not that I am not aware of it....And I married a Thai wife, not whole Thailand, its history, its holidays, and its foods and cultural customs....And I do have enough culture not to reply to a comment which is CLEARLY not addressed to me, and not to respond in sniding remarks, and to try to speak for others..."..you have been bussy LOVING on us." you a spokes person for others on this web Pailin?.....[/U]

[Mjyzpzph]

Well,....I am too bussy LOVING her and caring for her, to learn about Thai holidays...

Having a Thai spouse myself I would say that learning about your wife's customs and traditions is a big part of loving and caring for them. After all it is not too difficult these days with the Interweb.

Just my 2 satang.

David

[Ingeborga]

In time my friend,...all in it`s good time. And should not that be also same for Thai spouse, ..i.e. to learn same things about her/his spouses country?...now I don`t know about your wife how much she knows or has learned about your native country, your holidays, customs, etc....but my wife does not know when is labor day in U.S., or presidents day?..and I don`t blame her, because she married an American, why must she know these unimportant to her and to our relationship details?...now if she had lived here for several years and not know these holidays then it may be little unusual,..but still would not make her stupid or ignorant...since there are many Americans who are not sure of what date is what holiday...simply because that is not most important thing in their lives. I know when Nooches` birthday is..1st. January-New Years day...and she knows my birthsday..4th. July...for us to have happy relationship that is enough...Thanks for your comment David.

[ireleda]

Huns, you see that most people come here and want to impress someone so they grasp right into Traditions and Customs, most of which are not very old and all have been taken from other cultures and now they are supposed to be a tradition or custom that is very dear to the Thai. And anything that they can not explain why they do it is passed off as TRADITION.
As to the holidays here, it is not necessary to know all about them, I would imagine that most Thai do not care anyway, just as long as there is one and they can get drunk.
And as you have said,, You should learn all about their customs, but yours are not important enough to worry about, so that means that you are not important to them either.

[NutChusty]

[COLOR="Blue"]In time my friend,...all in it`s good time. And should not that be also same for Thai spouse, ..i.e. to learn same things about her/his spouses country?...now I don`t know about your wife how much she knows or has learned about your native country, your holidays, customs, etc..

You have raised a good point hunsolo.From my experience of living with a Thai wife in England I know that on the whole Thai people here tend to stick together and socialise with each other.
They tend to eat only Thai food and are not particularly interested in learning about English Customs and Culture.We have many official holidays here and my wife isn't really interested why it is a holiday,only that she doesn,t have to work.