Thai culture has many intricacies, most of which the average visitor will never come across, however if you are looking to live in Thailand long term, it is important to be aware of cultural differences and to know which faux pas to avoid.
Festival
Festivals in Thailand mainly celebrate the seasons and Buddhism. They are celebrated all year round, but two of the most famous include Songkran (Thai New Year) and Loi Kratong.
It is a festival of lights, with people sailing beautiful handmade kratongs (small boats made from banana leaf and decorated with a candle and coloured paper) down the river to carry away their bad luck. Lanterns are let off into the night sky carrying with them people’s dreams.
People
Thailand is a melting pot of different ethnicities who live together despite religious differences. With a territory and population about the same size as France, Thailand's people are mostly ethnic Thai, with other ethnic groups mixed in: Burmese, Chinese, Lao, Khmer and hilltribes. The vast majority of people are Buddhists, with less than 10 % being of other faiths including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Brahmanism.
Thai people are extremely friendly, hospitable and warm-hearted and welcoming of foreigners. The expression "Land of Smiles" is very accurate in describing the Thai view of life, as people deem a minute without a smile to be a lost minute. Thais are very proud of their country, very loyal to their King and for the most part, strong believers in the Buddhist value system; meaning that all humans are equal and propagating people to be friendly, to avoid conflict and live a good, honest and useful life, caring for others.
Thai food
Thai food is growing in popularity throughout the world, however you will not taste better food than you will in Thailand. Traditional Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai. Originally, Thai cooking reflected the characteristics of a waterborne lifestyle. Aquatic animals, plants and herbs were major ingredients and large chunks of meat were avoided. Subsequent influences introduced the use of sizeable chunks to Thai cooking.
A typical Thai meal should consist of a soup, a curry dish with condiments, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables. A spicy salad may replace the curry dish. The soup can also be spicy, but the curry should be replaced by non spiced items. There must be a harmony of tastes and textures within individual dishes and the entire meal with the following five tastes being catered to: pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty.
Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon. Even single dish meals such as fried rice with pork, or steamed rice topped with roasted duck, are served in bite-sized slices or chunks, eliminating the need for a knife. Thai culture ensures that meals are a social affair, as this way more dishes can be ordered.
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