Thai superstitions

[Fuzzy Bob]

(1) Do not bend down and look between your legs. You will see a ghost.
(2) Do not sweep dirt out of the front entrance. It will make all your money go away.
(3) Do not sweep at night. It is bad luck.
(4) Do not clean the spider web at night. You will lose all your money.
(5) Do not open an umbrella in the house. It will make you bald.
(6) Do not eat candy that has dropped on the floor. It now belongs to the ghost.
(7) Do not put valuable things away at night. The ghost will see and steal it.
(8) Do not keep broken Buddha images in the house. It will cause your family to be separated.
(9) Do not tell other people about your bad dream when you are eating. If you do it will come true.
(10) Do not rock an empty cradle. Your child will become sick.
(11) Do not throw anything onto the roof of the house. It is bad luck.
(12) Do not tap a kid on his head. It will make him a bed wetter.
(13) Do not enter a house through the window. Bad luck will come to that house.
(14) Do not allow wedding guests break any plates or glasses. It will cause the couple to become separated.
(15) If you have a scratch, do not attend a cremation. It will make your scratch infected.

[Fuzzy Bob]

* The Siamese not only avoid stepping over people, but also over books
* The length of time expressed by sak kru (usually translated as immediately), means in fact, as long as it takes to boil a pot of rice
* The Siamese sew seven buttons on their jackets and five on a shorter one. For children three is the norm.
* A staircase must not have four steps, but two, three and six are allowed
* In divorce the children born with odd numbers go to the mother, the even numbered ones to the father
* During a marriage ceremony the thumbs of the newlywed are tied together with the bonds of love
* Most siamese flowers are only fragrant in the morning, when they are open, or in the evening, but not in the middle of the day.
* The Siamese eat the lamphong fruit to get up Dutch courage, in the process becoming slightly mad in the head and very excitable, babbling confused sentences for the slightest reason
* The Siamese like to give their children hideous names to make them unattractive to the demons, thus protecting them
* Admiring a cute little child would make it ill, and so its parents hang a dog's or pig's tooth around its neck to blemish the child's pretty appearance
* A Siamese shakes his head to deny something. He waves with his hand bent downwards.
* If one asks him whether he does not deny something, he nods approvingly that he does not do so
* Instead of kissing, the Siamese press their faces together and breath in
* During an eclipse of the moon, the Siamese make a great din to prevent it from being eaten up
* The Siamese call the rainbow "luster that eats water" and meteors "demons throwing torches"

[Fuzzy Bob]

* The Siamese sleep with their head facing north and their feet pointing south, or with the head towards the east and their feet towards the west, because they believe if you sleep with your head towards the west, it may be ripped off by the wind and lost, when it must be replaced by an elephant's head. According to the old ways of speaking, the north is hua non (pillow for the head) and the south pai tin (side of the feet). Because corpses are cremated with their heads facing west, living people must lay down their heads pointing east.
* The Siamese ward off accidents with offerings of rice, bananas and other food, to which have been added six saleung in coins. If people are frightened about bad omens resulting from an evil constellation of the moon, they give a basket made from banana leaves and filled with flowers and cakes and sprinkled with consecrated water, to the local magician, to have it placed on the surface of some water. When gamblers are out of luck, they say sia kroh (may bad luck go away). To ward of evil (kroh), a clicking noise is made by pressing one's tongue against one's palate.
* A person who causes damage is a khon abpri. It is abpri if the roof of a house near a monastery is pierced by a tree growing through it. Sadiet changrai are inauspicious things, for example, if somebody plants a bamboo upside down. The evil consequences of abpri changrai are counteracted by the siah kroh ceremony. If someone walks under a line, hung with items of women's clothing, if they read the holy writings of Buddha on the lowest floor of a multi-story house, or in any other way violate the customs, they have not committed a sin, but a chang rai and they must ward off the threatening consequence by building a shrine for Phra Thorani, the guardian spirit of the earth.
* If somebody touches another person's head with their feet, changrai will befall both of them unless they both build shrines to rebuild their integrity. The same happens if somebody walks over the body of someone higher in rank or if a woman places her hands on someone else's head. But such trivial cases can be made good by sprinkling consecrated water (nam mon) on the head. If one touches the head of another person with a hoe, this is changrai. But if injury results, it is an instance of ubat, and that perpetrator must be give satisfaction by tham khuan. If a slave is insulted in this way by his master, he can claim his freedom.

[Fuzzy Bob]

(1) Do not kill big animals such as elephant, horse, cow, buffalo, etc. because it is a big sin
(2) Do not touch a buffalo horn because it won't grow any more
(3) Do not turn over a puppy because it will go and eat your chicken
(4) Do not touch a horse's tail because it will get sick
(5) Do not hit a dog with a bamboo pole meant for carrying things because it will become rabid
(6) Do not hit a cat because it is as much sinful as hitting a novice monk
(7) Do not hit a cat on the head because when you grow old your head will shake like the cat did when you hit it
(8) Do not rest a cow or a buffalo in the temple grounds because it is a sin
(9) Do not let a black cat jump across a corpse because the dead spirit will then become an angry ghost
(10) Do not raise five cats and six dogs because it will be bad luck for you
(11) Do not chain a monkey because your children will have small wrists like it has been chained
(12) Do not pat a cat’s back because you will make it thin
(13) Do not catch a firefly because your plates and bowls will break often
(14) Do not allow a husband and wife to go and see a snake together because the wife will have a miscarriage

[Fuzzy Bob]

(1) Do not wash you clothes on the same day a relation is cremated, because the ghost will come and take you away
(2) Do not wash your clothes during the night-time because you will become sick whenever you wear these clothes
(3) Do not wash the mosquito net in the canal because a crocodile will attack you
(4) Do not wash the plates of food that a neighbour gave you because you will hate each other
(5) Do not wash your plates at night-time because you will wash away your money
(6) Do not wash your hands together with other people because you will die together
(7) Do not wash your rice cooker at night-time because you should save some for the house ghost

[Fuzzy Bob]

If pregnant:
(1) Do not walk over lemon grass because the baby will come out with a withered leg.
(2) Do not enter the chapel when an ordination is in process because you will then have a difficult delivery.
(3) Do not watch an eclipse of the sun and the moon because the baby will be cross-eyed.
(4) Do not walk and eat because it will hurt a lot when you give birth.
(5) Do not step across the reins of a horse because the baby will stay longer in the womb.
(6) Do not fish because the baby will be difficult to come out.
(7) Do not sit on the steps because the baby will be difficult to come out.
(8) Do not go to a funeral because a ghost will come and take the baby away.
(9) Do not look after sick people because they won't get well.

[Fuzzy Bob]

(1) Do not look down while you are walking because it will make your life shorter and no-one will love you.
(2) Do not stomp your feet while in the house because you will scare the house spirits away and there will be no-one to look after the house.
(3) Do not walk heavily because this kind of person won't be able to save money.
(4) Do not step over sharp objects like scissors or knives because you will make it lose its sharpness.
(5) Do not step over a book because it will make you stupid.
(6) Do not step over the piece of wood propping up a banana tree because the bananas will be small.
(7) Do not walk over a charcoal brazier because you will get in trouble.
(8) Do not step over a gun or other hunting weapon because you will make the magic go away.
(9) Do not step over a pole that is used to carry loads on your shoulders because you will get a gallstone.

[Fuzzy Bob]

(1) Do not sleep with your legs crossed because you will have a suffocating feeling in your dreams
(2) Do not put your hand across your forehead because nobody will love you.
(3) Do not eat while lying down because you will become a snake in your next life.
(4) Do not sleep naked because the angel won't protect you.
(5) Do not lie down with one knee up because a very violent class of demon will suck your blood.
(6) Do not sleep under the beam of the house because the ghost will possess you easily.
(7) Do not sleep near the threshold of the house because you will have a suffocating feeling in your dreams
(8) Do not sleep on the gaps between the floorboards because a ghost will drag you down the hole.
(9) Do not count the stars while lying down because it will make your life short.
(10) Do not sleep in the kitchen because you will marry an old maid/man.
(11) Do not sleep in the early evening because the ghost will come and take your soul.
(12) Do not sleep while the sun is setting because you will never get up.
(13) Do not sleep with your head pointing west because that is where ghosts live.
(14) Do not lie down and read a book because it will make you stupid.

[Fuzzy Bob]

Sneezing:
(1) If you sneeze two or three times in a row, it means that someone is complaining or gossiping about you.
(2) If you sneeze in the morning between 6 a.m. - 9 a.m., you will be lucky that day, you might get a promotion, if you have to travel you will have a safe trip
(3) If you sneeze in the late morning between 9.01 a.m. - 12 p.m. you will receive good news from someone far away. You will be successful in your work.
(4) If you sneeze in the early afternoon between 12.01 p.m. - 3 p.m. you will receive some good news from someone of the opposite sex. Or you will have a romantic meeting with someone you love.
(5) If you sneeze in the late afternoon between 3.01 p.m. and 6 p.m. you will receive some good news regarding business. If you have lost anything you will get it back. Your investments will be successful. You shouldn't have anything to do with the opposite sex.
(6) If you sneeze in the early afternoon between 6.01 p.m. - midnight, do not accept anything from anyone because bad things will happen.
(7) If you sneeze between midnight until 6 a.m., be aware someone will come to ask to stay with you. Do not allow them. If someone asks for help, do not help. They will bring trouble.
(8) During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing from high above, your trip will be dangerous. You shouldn't continue.
(9) During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing from below, this will be a good trip, you might meet your soulmate.
(10) During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing in front of you, you will have a safe trip. Some good things are waiting for you.
(11) During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing behind you, it will be a bad trip. You should stop and go back straight away because bad things will happen like you will have an accident or you will be robbed.
(12) During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing on your right, you will have a safe trip and no troubles.
(13) During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing on your left, this trip will be successful. You should hurry because something big is waiting for you.

[Fuzzy Bob]

* Don't eat a double banana because if you are a woman you will give birth to twins.
* Don't eat before your elders because in your next life you will be born as a dog.
* Don't eat food without rice because you will get rickets.
* Don't eat salt under a tree because it will make the tree die.
* Don't eat other people's food without permission because it will make your throat swollen.
* Don't eat the leftovers from your child because it will make the kid naughty.
* Don't eat before a monk because you will become a bad ghost.
* Don't eat corn when you have the flu because it will give you a higher fever.
* Don't eat all of the rice during your evening meal because you should leave some for the elves.
* Don't eat cold rice with hot rice because you will lose your way easily the next time you go out.
* Don't eat egg when you have cut yourself because it will make it worse.
* Don't eat chicken feet because it will give you bad handwriting.
* Don't eat chili sauce in the mortar bowl because if you are a woman you will give birth to a child with big lips.
* Don't eat turtles because it will make you walk slowly.
* Don't eat dog because the dog's spirit will possess you.

[Fuzzy Bob]

(1) If you hear a gecko between 6 a.m. and noon it means that good news is on its way.
(2) If you hear a gecko between 12.01 p.m. and 6 p.m. it is a sign of something bad to come.
(3) If you hear a gecko between 6.01 p.m. and midnight it could be bad and good news coming your way.
(4) If you hear a gecko between 12.01 a.m. and 6 a.m. then it doesn't mean anything. It is its normal cry.
(5) If you hear a gecko cry four times in a row it means that within 15 days there will be trouble in the family.

[Fuzzy Bob]

Creatures with tails:
(1) If the creature lands in front of you and its tail points to you: you will be lucky, you will receive precious gifts and the angels will look after you.
(2) If the creature lands in front of you and its tail points to your right: you will get presents from your relations.
(3) If the creature lands in front of you and its tail points to your left: you and your relations will be in danger or ill. You should go and make merit straight away.
(4) If the creature lands on your left hand: you will have good luck and you will either inherit something expensive, get a promotion or live a happy life.
(5) If the creature falls down and hits your right hand: bad things will happen to the people in your family. There will be no happiness in your life.
(6) If the creature lands in the middle of a circle of people: everyone should be careful as bad things could happen to each and every person.
(7) If one of these creatures falls down dead in the street while you are walking by: bad things might happen which might cause you to bleed and consequently die.
(8) If one of these creatures falls down in the street and manages to crawl away unassisted: bad things might happen, you will get injured or get involved in a fight.

That'll do it for now

[Propagator]

even though I am a Spurs supporter.

I feel for you for the great burden that you carry

[Dr No]

Thanks for the input...

Yes, Monday is teh Kings birthday,I thought it would be worth a gold star or something too.

No, I don't have overpowering BO...Not to my knowledge anyway

Although, the money thing sounds plausible,they are never happy with the amount of cash you spend on them as far as I can see.

Bit of an update...She called me out of the blue today claiming she "had to go away in a hurry, an emergancy with the family" blah blah and was all lovie dovie.

I reckon she was playing some sort of stupid mind game...anyway the short of it is that I got another girl now so that prank kinda blew up in her face.

Case closed as far as I'm concerned

[Dr No]

From reading some replies to this thread and all their whacko superstitions you'd swear the Thai's are from a bygone era. When will they knock all this superstitious mumbo jumbo on the head and fall in line with everybody else and realise that you make your own luck in this world.

[robuzo]

I reckon she was playing some sort of stupid mind game...anyway the short of it is that I got another girl now so that prank kinda blew up in her face.

Case closed as far as I'm concerned

Sounds the correct response to me.

[Spin]

she "had to go away in a hurry, an emergancy with the family" blah blah and was all lovie dovie.

Translation: another boyfriend showed up at the airport

[helge]

not ghosts, but years back i had a Canadian forestry tutor - he was remarkably accurate at measuring a tree's height by walking away and counting the paces till he could see the top of the tree while looking back between his legs. We had fancy laser things, he was never far wrong. When I tried it I just got dizzy, but never saw any ghosts either - takes a lot of practice walking that way - is this a Canadian thing?

No, they do that in Denmark aswell

That'll do it for now

I should say so Interesting though

[Stinky]

I am a Spurs supporter.

But you seem to be such a decent bloke

[The Fresh Prince]

If you put a little dog saliva on your eyes,and then bend forward and look between your legs...you can sometimes see Piiii!!(Ghosts) as told to me by some people in a northern Muubaan(village) once,haven't tried it yet...any takers??

Garye - I heard that one as well. You need to bend forward and look behind you through your open legs. Apparently it is only a certain type of ghost that you can see in this manner.

When I said this one a few weeks back on a different thread you all took the piss outta me!!

[The Fresh Prince]

Anyone heard this one?

If you point with your finger at a rainbow then the spirit of the rainbow will come down and take your finger. The only place that you can hide your finger so that the spirit cant get it, is up your bum.

Sounds to me like thats just an excuse so that they can stick their fingers up their bums.

[robuzo]

If you put a little dog saliva on your eyes,and then bend forward and look between your legs...you can sometimes see Piiii!!(Ghosts) as told to me by some people in a northern Muubaan(village) once,haven't tried it yet...any takers??

Garye - I heard that one as well. You need to bend forward and look behind you through your open legs. Apparently it is only a certain type of ghost that you can see in this manner.

When I said this one a few weeks back on a different thread you all took the piss outta me!!

I just tried it. Saw stars and fell over. Or maybe was pushed over by a piiiii.

[The Fresh Prince]

Or your just too dunk!

I think you have to do it at a temple at night.

[robuzo]

Or your just too dunk!

I think you have to do it at a temple at night.

People say the pub I frequent in Florida is haunted, maybe I'll try it there. The staff will probably stop letting me in.

[tsicar]

Or your just too dunk!

I think you have to do it at a temple at night.

i wouldn't risk bending over anywhere near a monk, even in bright daylight!


..........heard all about those buggers.


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