Learn About Thai Culture And Customs

Nearly all people living in Thailand practice Buddhism, which is why Thai sculpture almost always portrays images of Buddha. The Thai Buddha is portrayed as being sinuous and slender. Artistic painting in Thailand is generally found in palaces and temples. Other influences on Thai culture include Hinduism, as long as Thailand’s southeast Asian neighbours, such as China, Laos and Myanmar. In Thai custom, people greet each other with a salutation known as wai – as opposed to the Western-influenced hand shake. For the wai, the palms of the hands are pressed together and heads are bowed to show respect. Most people living in Thailand are accustomed to sitting on the floor, rather than on chairs. The floor may also be used as a dining table. Thai food is famous for balancing spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter flavours. Because of its location, the food in this country can be described as being a fusion of the different regions of the country – north, northeast, south and central. Thailand’s cultural heritage is enriched by their arts and crafts. These arts and crafts represent the conventions of rural life. One of the traditional arts of Old Siam is boat painting. These multi-coloured, hand-made boats feature symbols of birds, animals and mythical creatures that are meant to protect the boat’s passengers. Thailand is one of the most respected makers of textiles in the world. Their pottery and earthenware shows their artistic traditions, while reed-woven baskets are also common pieces. Thai dancing is an artform, and is separated into low art and high art. Traditional, folk dances are considered low art, and are generally very creative and original. Classical dances are high art, and are often costumed and choreographed, and follow with tradition. Despite influences from many other countries, Thailand is home to a culture that is uniquely theirs.