Observing Thai Beliefs

Have you ever noticed a small mirror above a doorway, bottles of red soda left by the roadside, or rows of zebra statues at a shrine in Thailand? This lesson looks at everyday Thai beliefs you can spot around you. Topics include spirit houses, offerings for good business, amulets and sacred threads, lucky shirt colours for each day of the week, stickers on cars, and why many barbershops close on Wednesdays.

Thai Vocabulary:
ความเชื่อ (khwaam chʉ̂a) – Belief
ศาลพระภูมิ (sǎan phrá phuum) – Spirit house
สายสิญจน์ (sǎai sǐn) – Sacred thread
นางกวัก (naang gwàk) – Nang Kwak, the beckoning lady
ผี (phǐi) – Ghost / Spirit

Next time you walk through a Thai market or down a Thai street, see how many of these you can find!

Intermediate Amulet Barber Beliefs Business Car Chiang Mai Colors Culture Days Feng Shui Ghosts History King King Naresuan Lottery Luck Market Religion Shops Slang Spirit House Superstition Travel

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Observing Thai Beliefs

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