The festival is celebrated not only for religious purposes, but also for entertainment.
New Year's Day
I am glad to know that you are interested in Thai festivals. In fact, Thailand is well-known for her festivals which take place all year round. Whenever you come to Thailand, you can join our festivals.
First of all is New Year's Day. Actually, the official New Year's Day of Thailand has undergone several changes. Once it used to tall at the end of November. Late, during the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910) it was moved to a date round about April and then New Year's Day was changed to April the first.The universal practice of celebrating the New Year on January 1 was adopted in 1941 in deference to the western calendar, and this is one of a number of changes aimed at modernising the country. (Thanapol Chadchaidee, 2000 : 82)
The New Year celebration is an age-old tradition in Thailand. This is evident from the memoir of Father De Choisi of France who served in Thailand as assistant of the French envoy from 1684-1686 during the reign of King Narai the Great. He cited how the people decorated their residences on the occasion and how officials offered blessings to His Majesty the King in the Royal palace. (Public Relations Department, 1968 : 52)
The New Year's celebration actually begins on the evening of December 31. It starts with a party among families, relatives and friends.Presents and cards are given to each other. At midnight fireworks are set off to greet the coming year.
New Year's Day for Thais is the day to make merit by offering food to monks releasing caged birds and fish and going to listen to a sermon at a temple. Then people go to visit their elders and ask them for a blessing. The purpose is to have a good start to a new period in life and to show gratitude to their parents and respected ones.
If it is a long vacation. some people like to travel upcountry to visit their relatives or spend holidays at a tourist spot. At the same time, some companies take this opportunity to give their employees a bonus and to announce promotions.
New Year in Thailand is celebrated much like anywhere else, isn't it? I also enclose a lovely card wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year.
จากหนังสือ "เทศกาล งานประเพณีท้องถิ่น" ระดับมัธยมศึกษา กรมวิชาการ กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ
เรียบเรียงโดย นางสาวนิธิ สตะเวทิน
