Interesting facts about the Chinese New Year tradition in Thailand

About 15 % of Thailand's population is believed to be descended from Chinese settlers who brought with them traditions such as the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year (Wan Trut Jin in Thai) has been integrated into the Thai culture, so that the inhabitants are used to celebrate 3 new years: the official new year on January 1st, the Thai New Year Songkran and the Chinese New Year.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangkok's Chinese communities were alive with music, dance and beautifully lit lanterns that coloured the sky during the Chinese New Year festival.

Although major celebrations are banned this year to avoid the spread of Covid-10 infection, families will continue to perform their rituals.

Some of these rituals include the exchange of gifts, the family reunion dinner and the red decorations.

From Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the lunar year, the festivities usually last about two weeks.

Interesting facts about Chinese New Year

1. Chinese New Year celebrations are born out of myth and fear

According to Chinese legend, the wild beast Nian (which is also the word for "year") attacked and killed the villagers at the beginning of each new year.

One day, people managed to scare the beast away with loud noises and bright lights.

The Nian monster never appeared again and so the Chinese New Year celebrations were born.

2. People exchange red envelopes and hand out oranges

"Thai-Chinese are familiar with the red envelopes known as "ang-pao" or "hóngbo".

Red envelopes, filled with money, are usually given to unmarried children by their parents or elders.

The red envelopes are also known as "ysuqián", which means "money to ward off evil spirits".

In addition, most people start visiting their extended family and relatives to share some oranges and ang pao and wish them a Happy Chinese New Year.

3. Red everywhere

Thais and Chinese believe that it is good luck to wear red or bright colours on Chinese New Year.

You will also see red decorations everywhere.

Indeed, people believe that the colour red is supposed to ward off evil spirits and bring wealth and good energy.

Red lanterns adorn the streets, while red New Year images adorn the doors.

4. Traditional dragon dance and fireworks show

People believe that the sound of firecrackers will scare away the demons.

Colourful traditional dances are performed in the open air to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals, sometimes as a street parade.

Yoawarat Chinatown is the main place in Bangkok where all the big events take place.

The streets are beautifully decorated with red lanterns and colourful dragon and lion dances.

The dragon appears in many Chinese cultural festivities because the Chinese believe that they are descended from this mythological beast.

5. No sweeping or cleaning the house

According to an article published by Chulalongkorn University in 2020, "Thai-Chinese believe that sweeping or cleaning the house during Chinese New Year will make luck and fortune disappear, and money will leave the house.

However, there is a day to sweep and clean to make room for the good luck that comes before the spring festival.

6. People believe that they should not argue or curse anyone during this period

According to superstitions, saying nice things and being nice will bring you joy and luck during the Chinese New Year.

People think that swearing, saying words with negative meanings like death, poverty, ghosts during the festival will bring you bad luck all year round.

In addition, the word "sii" or "4" in Thai is also considered a bad word, as it is similar to the word "death" in Chinese.

7. Families gather for a reunion dinner

Families gather on Chinese New Year's Eve for a sumptuous dinner that always includes pork, duck, fish, chicken and, most importantly, Chinese ravioli!

This is the most important meal of the year, known as the reunion dinner.

Several generations of large families gather around a table to enjoy food and time together.

Most families prepare a variety of symbolic 'lucky' foods, but the most popular dish is undoubtedly the 'Jiaozi' ravioli, or wealth dumpling.

Before the New Year's Eve celebration, many families like to prepare the dumpling dough and filling together.

8. Offering sacrifices to the ancestors

Many Thai-Chinese visit the graves of their ancestors on Chinese New Year's Eve to offer sacrifices before the reunion dinner.

This religious practice is based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence and will bless the family in return.

This may be because Thais and Chinese feel more distant from their ancestral land and therefore the ceremony of commemorating the past and old relatives carries more weight here than in China.

Although the Chinese New Year event was cancelled this year due to the increasing number of cases of Covid-19, the streets will still be decorated with beautiful lights and Chinese lanterns.

People will continue to visit Chinese shrines and places of worship and pay homage to their ancestors as usual.

Source: The Thaiger