Tuesday, December 8, 2009

New Year's Celebration

Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year! People exchange hugs and kisses. Everyone looks happy. They say good bye to the past year and welcome the new year with hopes for better and happier lives. In Thailand, New Year’s celebration is an occasion for religious and festive activities.

On New Year’s Eve or December 31, Thai people host or go to a party. They spend time with families and friends. In the morning, some people clean and decorate their houses for a new year party. A clean house symbolizes the beginning with a clean slate. Other people may go to restaurants. Most of them eat, drink, dance, sing, or talk while waiting for midnight. At midnight, people count down to the new year, ring bells and blow horns. They say “Happy New Year!” or “Sawatdee Pi Mai!” Some hug and kiss. There is also a magnificent fireworks display.



The biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in Thailand is at Central World located in Bangkok. Many people enjoy a concert and party there. Alternatively, some people choose to go to Buddhist temples to make merits and listen to Dharma speeches told by monks. Many people stay awake until two or three in the morning to enjoy the new year.


January 1 is New Year’s Day. Both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are public holidays in Thailand. Most Thai people make offerings to the monks at temples. These generally include streamed rice, curries, soup, fried pork, stir-fried vegetables, and desserts. Some people make cash donations. After a religious ceremony, they often free birds, fish, and turtles into ponds, canals, or rivers. Some people host a party and prepare a big feast for a new year celebration. They give gifts to families, relatives, friends, and co-workers. Some people promise to become a better person for the new year by kicking bad habits like drinking alcohol or smoking.

New Year’s celebration provides an opportunity for the Thais to spend quality time with their families and make merits. Everyone hopes that the new year will bring them happiness, good health, and wealth.

22 comments:

  1. Everyone likes to go to New Year's celebration at Central World. There are a lot of activities for people who go there such as concert, game show, alcohol party and so on. I went to this celebration last year. It's very noisy and pretty crow.If you want to go there, you have to protect your hand bag or your stuff.
    Be careful, plz

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  2. Thanks Memmo for sharing. I've never been there on New Year's Eve, but I can imagine how much fun it can be. So, what did you enjoy most about last year's celebration?

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  3. Before the New year coming,most people away travel to another province for float away the unlucky and for relax with family and friends, but some people would like to stay at their home because in BKK there aren't a lot of people and tafficjam.

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  4. I like New Year Day because it have long holiday. I will stay at home with my family.

    New Year’s celebration is a good day for everyone.

    Don't forget enjoy your new day.

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  6. I enjoyed reading this blog! Firework is beautihul. I want to go to thailand.

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  7. In Japan,come the new year is not so special. So Thai's new years celebration is looks very fun!
    I want to join this once!

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  8. A happy new year!!
    Firework is very beautiful in Thailand.
    It can often see in summer in Japan.
    I want to see Firework in Thailand!

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  9. Thai's party look so happy.
    I want to go to Thailand and enjoy this party!

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  10. Thank you for visiting and comment on our blog. Your blog is a interesting informations. I enjoyed reading and watching a magnificent fireworks display video on your blog. I heard sound of people in the video. They are very happy. It makes me want to go there. :D*

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  11. On New Year Festival I backed to my hometown in Chainat.I wanted to join with festival at Central World but I thought that there are a lot of people at there so I went to my house and count down with my family.

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  12. In Japan,we clean house on New Year's eve and welcome the new year with friends or family,too.This year, I welcomed new year with my family in my house.
    Someday, I want to spend New Year's day in Thailand.

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  13. I didn't know how to celebrate of new years day in Tailand,so I could learn a lot of things by your blog.Thank you!!^^

    Have you ever been to japan in new years day?I think Japan is also good place to celeblate in new years day.

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  14. Why do you free birds and fish and turtles?
    In Japan,we usually spend New Year's Day and Eve with families and relatives. New Year's party in Thailand sounds so fun!

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  15. In Japan, we celebrate New Year's Day like Thailand, but there aren't fire works.So I surprised at it.
    I wont to go to Thailand and see it!

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  16. party sounds great. iwanna spend new years day in thailand. most of japanese young people go to shrine to pray and get fortune slip.

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  17. I think you wrote very nice and then so impressive. I want to come thailand for a new year

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  18. Also in Japan, New Year's Day is public holiday and we clean houses on New Year's Eve too. There are some similarities between Thai and Japan how to celeblate The New Year's Day

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  19. Hello!
    I don't know about New Year's celebration of Thailand.
    So this blog is very interesting to read.
    I'm very surprised a difference between Japan and Thailand.
    It seems very happy!
    I'm very interested in Thailand.
    I want to go there someday.
    Thank you.

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  20. Hi!
    I think it's a briliant ceremony to enjoy your families or relatives.
    Did you wish something that for this new year?
    I thought interesting that your country has a tradition that you fllat turtles into rivers.

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  21. It sounds interesting!
    We celebrate New Year same as you.
    On New Year's day, I think most people spent time with friends or families, but I had a part-time job.(-.-)

    Thank you for your information.

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  22. In Japan, we celeblate New Year Day, and Eve like you. We often go shrine in New Year Day or after the day, but you go to it in Eve:) I think fireworks what we look in winter night is intersting

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