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  1. #1
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    Thai superstitions

    Hi, I've used TD for a while for various insights into Thailand and its customs but never had the inclination to ask any specific questions until now.

    I've been seeing my Thai gf for a while now,the other day she asked me what my birthday was, the actual day,which I didn't know off hand. I decided to find out as i was told the Thai's as interested it that sort of thing. After a bit of searching on the internet I informed her I was born on a Monday.She went quite and the next day cleared out her stuff from my flat while I was out and split. She even changed her mobile number.

    I'm completely baffled as we'd been professing our undying love for each other the day before. I know that doesn't mean much in Thailand but it still doesn't explain the Houdini impression. So,my question is,birthdays and what superstitions surround them to cause this??

    any insight appreciated

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat Boon Mee's Avatar
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    When deciding how to orient the toilets in bathrooms when constructing houses, Thais believe they cannot face North/South. This one was just sprung on me deciding our new home soon to be built. Go figure...

  3. #3
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    Wasn't His Majesty the King born on a Monday?
    Seems like a good day

  4. #4
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    I was putting on a new pair of jeans the other day when the mrs said no not today it's bad luck to wear new stuff today, forget what day it was, who cares. Then there is also a bloody day when it's bad luck to get your hair cut and so it goes on, mad the lot of 'em.

  5. #5
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    Whats the superstition with that Fuzzy?

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    ^ Just sounds like Doc's bird just needed an excuse to split.
    Being born on the same day as HM seems ok to me, but then again I aint Thai

  7. #7
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    Maybe she found out he was skint?

    Are you skint Dr No, they always scarper when the money has run out

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    Just found some info on superstitions such as:
    "I heard of one where you cannot cut your hair or fingernails on the day you were born. i.e. If you were born on a Friday, then cutting your hair on nails on Fridays would mean very bad luck."
    Did you have a manicure while getting your hair cut on a Monday Doc?

  9. #9
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    Unbelivable stuff aint it, got to wonder how all this good luck/ bad luck crap started

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat helge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sdigit
    Unbelivable stuff aint it, got to wonder how all this good luck/ bad luck crap started
    'Poo tao vao doo'='Old people talk too much'

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by helge View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Sdigit
    Unbelivable stuff aint it, got to wonder how all this good luck/ bad luck crap started
    'Poo tao vao doo'='Old people talk too much'

    Yes that would be it Helge

  12. #12
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    Seems they pick 'n choose what superstitions they believe. I certainly found that out with the wife's family in the Isaan. After 36 years of being a part of that clan, I still am baffled by what they can come up with.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by luangtom
    Seems they pick 'n choose what superstitions they believe. I certainly found that out with the wife's family in the Isaan.
    As in "It's unlucky for Thai people to pay for the beer and whisky at a wedding or funeral if a farang has been invited."

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    I have a few Falang ones:

    It is unlucky to give money to people in Saffron coloured robes

    Don't give money to Thais on days of the week ending in a Y

    Bills should always be paid by members of the superior race

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    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??

  16. #16
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    My wife, a north-central Thai, thinks that dark red is my lucky color because I was born on a Sunday. This works for me because claret is probably my favorite color, even though I am a Spurs supporter.

  17. #17
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    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.

    Dr No, I think you just had a bad case of body odour and your GF used the day thing as an excuse to clear out. Get over it and take a shower or three

    Simon

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fuzzy Bob View Post
    ^ Just sounds like Doc's bird just needed an excuse to split.
    Being born on the same day as HM seems ok to me, but then again I aint Thai
    My mate's kid is 'made', with 3-day village jubilations that he shares the same bday as HM.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by BigRed View Post
    I have a few Falang ones:

    It is unlucky to give money to people in Saffron coloured robes

    Don't give money to Thais on days of the week ending in a Y

    Bills should always be paid by members of the superior race
    Brilliant -- I was hanging out with a Thai girl once who sprung a couple of these on me (usually time for me to split, BTW), so I started making up a bunch of Farang superstitions, as I was going along.

    "No, you can't sit on that side of the table, not today, and not after the sun set"

    "I can't give you any money today, it would mean bad luck for you"

    "This is the wrong month to buy jewelry as presents for loved one - it means it will be stolen soon"

    "Did you see the ghost on the balcony? He's right there" (my favorite)

    Usually works. Only backfired once.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by crazy dog View Post
    Then there is also a bloody day when it's bad luck to get your hair cut and so it goes on, mad the lot of 'em.
    Wednesday, IIRC. you may find a number of hairdressers/barbers choose to shut on that day because of the superstition.

  21. #21
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    If you have a boy born on King's date or a girl born on queen's date, they might just receive plenty of gifts from shops and people around your place at each birthday...

    Blessing, believing...

    The spirits in the spirit houses really prefer this red colored soft drink, Thai's have a proof by showing you that the content is less after a few hours in the sun, compared to coke or sprite...

  22. #22
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    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by Simon43 View Post
    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.

    Dr No, I think you just had a bad case of body odour and your GF used the day thing as an excuse to clear out. Get over it and take a shower or three

    Simon
    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?

  23. #23
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    (1) Don’t whistle at night because you will invite ghosts into your house.
    (2) Don’t let women eat chicken feet because they will have an affair
    (3) Do not let pregnant women whistle because her baby will have a crooked mouth
    (4) Do not allow an adult pay respect to a child (wai) because that child will have a shortened life
    (5) Do not joke while you are eating because the ghost will steal your rice
    (6) Do not cover your head when you go to a temple because this will make you bald
    (7) Do not sharpen a knife at night time because you will offend the angels
    (8) Do not look at naked people because your eyes will become swollen
    (9) Do not have sexual intercourse on holy days (wan phra) because bad things will happen.
    (10) Do not let the bride and the groom meet three days before the wedding because their marriage will not last
    (11) Do not smile while sowing corn because it won’t grow
    (12) Do not stand in a doorway because a ghost will enter the house
    (13) Do not sew at night because the ghost will haunt you
    (14) Do not throw money away because you will lose your finger
    (15) Do not sing while you are eating because the ghost will curse you.

  24. #24
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    (1) Do not take off a ring from someone else's finger because you will be taking away the people they love.
    (2) Do not spit in the toilet because you will have a mole on your lips.
    (3) Do not spit towards the sky because it is a sin.
    (4) Do not pluck your eyebrows during the evening because bad things will happen to you.
    (5) Do not plough on holy days because the rice won't grow.
    (6) Do not say to a baby that they are cute because the ghost will come and take the baby away.
    (7) Do not break anything on your wedding day because it is a sign that your marriage won't last.
    (8) Do not drop chopsticks during the Chinese New Year because you won't make a good living.
    (9) Do not let a woman sit on a staricase for a long time because she will have a difficult labour.
    (10) Do not sit higher than a monk because it is a sin.
    (11) Do not sit on the big water jars because it is a sin.
    (12) Do not sit on pillows meant for your head because you will get a painful rash on your behind.
    (13) Do not count off the names of people that have died because you will be next.
    (14) Do not keep anything belonging to the temple inside your house because a disaster will happen to you.
    (15) Do not offer the same food to your dead ancestors and to the monks because you will then rot in hell

  25. #25
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    (1) Do not let your children play with shadows during the evening. The shadow guy will come and take them away.
    (2) Do not pick flowers in the temple grounds. You will go to hell when you die.
    (3) Do not walk with your face down. It will make your life shorter.
    (4) Do not stomp as you walk around the house. You will scare the guardian spirits of the house.
    (5) Do not walk heavily. You won't be able to save any money.
    (6) Do not walk across any sharp objects. It will make them unsharp.
    (7) Do not hit your parents. You will become a very bad ghost.
    (8) Do not boil an egg in a rice cooker. It will make your life worse.
    (9) Do not set up a spirit house in the shadow of a house. The owner of the house won't be successful.
    (10) Do not cut your hair on Wednesday. It is bad luck for you.
    (11) Do not cut your nails during the night-time. It will be like breaking the bones of your ancestors.
    (12) Do not insult a Buddha image. You will go to hell.
    (13) Do not get married on odd numbered months. It is a bad omen for your marriage.
    (14) Do not spit or complain about the smell at a funeral. Bad things will happen to you.
    (15) Do not take off your clothes or sleep next to the closet. A ghost will come to haunt you.

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