Thai superstitions

[good2bhappy]

Here's one.(?)
Do not have your hair cut on a wednesday.
Please add yours

[English Noodles]

If a husband and wife see a snake together and the wife is expecting then the wife will have a miscarriage.

[MisterStretch]

I learned that first one when I asked why my barber's shop was closed on Wednesday.

The ghost of a recently deceased friend will come visit you if you dream about them.

[DrB0b]

Here's one.(?)
Do not have your hair cut on a wednesday.
Please add yours

I posted the poem below about one about a year and a half ago.

I also did this thread about Thai Amulets, Spells, and Magic

https://teakdoor.com/living-in-thaila...tml#post267465


Yellow Shirts, Pus-Filled Boils, and the Splendour of the Feet
https://teakdoor.com/living-in-thailand-thai-language-forum/11623-yellow-shirts-pus-filled-boils-splendour.html
(Separated from my other thread on Thai magic and superstitions
because this is more about Thai literature and poetry than magic)

I'd guess that most of us know that the people of Thailand have a
tradition of matching the colour of their clothes to the days of the week.
Most noticeably on Mondays when the country is awash in yellow. The most
common explaination for the wearing of yellow is that it's in honour of HM the
King. This is true, but it's not the whole story.

One of Thailands greatest poets was a chap known as Sunthorn Phu. He was
born in 1786 and lived at the court of Rama II. Sunthorn was quick with
words and Rama II, himself a poet, favoured him greatly. Sunthorn
produced many of the greatest works of Thai literature. Unfortunately he was
hot-tempered and arrogant and, after the death of Rama II, he was banished
from court and his title of Sunthorn, meaning melodious, was taken from
him.

One of his most popular poems is called Sawasdi Raksa, meaning Taking
Care of Ones Welfare, bodily and spiritually. This codifies, among other
things, the colour of clothes appropriate for each day. I'm not aware of a
good poetic translation into English but as it's an interesting poem I'd like to
share this prose version. Quite a few of the recommendations made in the
poem are still observed today.

The original was written 8 syllables to a line with an internal rhyming scheme.

---

Sunthorn writes for the Royal Princes according to the Blessed Texts.
These words are fit for those of rank and dignity.
Observe them and your luck and life will be long,
Your descendants many, and your power and happiness daily increased.

Live according to the teachings of the Ancients.

In the morning, arising from bed, do not be angry.
Turn to the East and South and three times say
The prayer for the washing of your face.

Your first words should be words of praise, do this
And your dignity will be enhanced.
In the morning splendour resides in the face, in the day
splendor resides in the body.

Bathe and anoint yourself with scented water, this
Brings happiness and health.

In the evening a mans spendour resides in his feet,
No woman's foot may be laid over that of a man.

He who faces East while eating is assured
Of power and a long life.
Facing South he will be loved by all.
West brings happiness and health and makes suffering small.
Facing North brings evil, short life, and ill-luck.

When sitting do not spit, do not look down.
Facing North while seated drives away evil spirits
And keeps you safe from spells and curses.

Arising from dleep, wash your face,
brightness and clarity will be yours.

Before leaving your house bathe and sprinkle face
And body with scented water.
Victory will walk with you.

Do not allow your wife to sleep on your arm,
Wash always after sleep.
Fortune will smile on you and keep you from harm.

Wash your hair on Saturday and you will be
Free from calamity.
Cutting one's nails on Monday and Wednesday
Will keep the accursed away.

The garments for each day are of seven colours.
Sunday, Red will bring good fortune
Monday, Yellow is for a long life
Tuesday, Purple invites good luck
Wednesday, Yellow and Red, or many-coloured and glittering
Thursday, Yellow and Green
Friday, Blue or Blue-gray.
Saturday, Black to bring terror to the enemy

When bathing in the river or stream
Always face the direction of running water
Do not face the water for then the evil
doers may curse you.
Do not pollute the waters.
Always show respect to the water goddess, Mae Ganga.

A man should know the magical arts,
Every night he should practice his incantations,
Practice will make them potent and effective.
When the dogs bark and howl do not say harsh words,
for then your own word will not be respected.

Do not spit while there is a wind for if the
Saliva falls upon any animals your spells will lose
their power.

Pay respect to monks, it will enhance your dignity.
Do not curse the wind, the sun, or the rain.
Do not wish for the day to end and darkness to come.
At dawn pay respect to the Sun,
At dusk to the Moon.

Before sleep remember your parents and teachers.
Always praise their virtues and their graces
for they made you as you are.

When wearing the loin cloth fold one end
in to the right side.
You will be safe from the teeth and claws of
crocodiles and their kind.

Do not walk under a bridge across a canal,
Nor a trellis of climbing blooms.
Be careful passing under the supports of a house
Or the fence of an animal pen.
Whoever does these things will lose
His magical powers.

When you see a corpse, say nothing,
If you speak, you must wash your face.
Do not sleep with your amulets or talismans
And do not step over weapons.

Do not lie on the left side of woman
for surely harm will come to you.

On new-years day, your birthday, mid-year,
Days of eclipse or the full moon in lent,
Do not lie with women, it is prohibited
for it will shorten your life.

Do not sleep with a menstruating women,
If you do not die you will be
Afflicted with pus-filled boils and blindness.

When sleeping, if you breath easily through
Both nostrils do not put your left foot
over your right.
If the air flows only through the right nostril
The right foot must be placed over the left foot.

If a loud noise, a crash, or creaking sound
Is heard when walking, sitting, or sleeping
You must not speak for it may be the noise
of witches or evil spirits.

Listen Princes to these words. They will prevent
Harm and bring health and wisdom.
The old words were difficult to understand
And I have made them simple for you.
I have made a verse for the people that
They may understand.

If I, Sunthorn Phu, have made mistakes according to
The ancient words I beg your
Forgiveness.

[Spin]

Never pay check bin when farang available to do same.

[English Noodles]

Never pay check bin when farang available to do same.

I personaly have found the reverse, it is usualy difficult to get a Thai not to check bin or accept money for my share of the bill.

Just my personal experience, I'm sure we all hav e different ones.

[Chairman Mao]

How ironic/bizarre/hypocritical that one of the people insulting posters over on the 'Thaiophile' thread over them pointing out the differences between Thais and farangs, are here a writing a poem on the EXACT SAME topic!

In the morning, arising from bed, do not be angry.
Turn to the East and South and three times say
The prayer for the washing of your face.

Your first words should be words of praise, do this
And your dignity will be enhanced.
In the morning splendour resides in the face, in the day
splendor resides in the body.

Bathe and anoint yourself with scented water, this
Brings happiness and health.

In the evening a mans spendour resides in his feet,
No woman's foot may be laid over that of a man.

He who faces East while eating is assured
Of power and a long life.
Facing South he will be loved by all.
West brings happiness and health and makes suffering small.
Facing North brings evil, short life, and ill-luck.

etc etc

I point out their differenting beliefs and customs and the very same posters is laying on insults and calling me names!!!!

Says a lot about you Dr. Bob.

[DrB0b]

^
mon·o·ma·ni·a (mŏn'ə-mā'nē-ə, -mān'yə)
n.

1. Pathological obsession with one idea or subject.
2. Intent concentration on or exaggerated enthusiasm for a single subject or idea.

[Fstop]

Must have monks decide on the day and then bless the land before building a house.

[BalconiesR4drinkinon]

My Mrs will not let me buy baby stuff until it's born. (bad luck=misscarriage)

So I can predict a mad rush to get everything ready just as she's given birth, when there will be a 101 things to do anyway.

[Loy Toy]

My wife had a dream about seeing a coffin but could not see who was in the coffin.

Had to take her to Wat Whallapong in Bangkok and to buy a coffin for a poor deceased person's family.

When we arrived at the Wat the place was packed with people that obviously believed in the same superstition.

[Fstop]

Ghosts and spirit houses.
Getting monks (and paying them, right?) to come and get rid of unwanted ghosts and spirits.

[keda]

yes and they're usually powerful spirits if you look rich

[Texpat]

If you say choke choke choke when you see a snake you'll have good luck.

But it doesn't work with a dead snake.

[Spin]

^ I tell them sa-moke sa-moke sa-moke when they see my snake.

[Norton]

If a loud noise, a crash, or creaking sound Is heard when walking, sitting, or sleeping You must not speak for it may be the noise of witches or evil spirits.

A favorite of the missus.

Sleeping with your head pointing west a no, no.

Stairways must have odd number of stairs. Even number, bad luck.

[Chairman Mao]

It appears that Thais are very different westerners!

[Norton]

It appears that Thais are very different westerners!

Yes. As far as superstitions. Knocking on wood, throwing salt over their shoulders, broken mirrors and the like. You know that kind of thing.

Traditional Thai superstitions are not any more stupid or ignorant than those in the west though are they? BTW, educated Thais, don't buy this stuff any more than educated "westerners".

[Chairman Mao]

Traditional Thai superstitions are not any more stupid or ignorant than those in the west though are they?

Absolutely not.

BTW, educated Thais, don't buy this stuff any more than educated "westerners".

So education is the key?

[Topper]

Don't play hide and seek at night because the spirits will take those who hide away.

[Norton]

So education is the key?

Education and experience. Same, same as westerners. Yes?

[Fstop]

I was in Phuket a few years ago, shortly after the tsunami. Loads of Thais told me that they wouldn't go near the beaches there because of all the spirits wandering around. Some of them wouldn't even look at the beaches while walking past.

[Chairman Mao]

So education is the key?

Education and experience. Same, same as westerners. Yes?

More to do with education I'd say. In that people aren't taught in school that superstitions are, for the most part, a load of bollix. People really figure that out (or don't) for themselves. Rote learning, which much of Asia's educational systems are based on, doesn't teach or train people to think for themselves.

Just my opinion of course.

[Missismiggins]

My ten favourite, or relative are...
1: Don't WASH your hair on wednesday.
2: Dont CUT your hair on wednesday.
3: Don't CUT your childs fingernails or toenails on the day of the week they were born.
4: Don't KILL cats, it is effectively the same as killing a monk. lol get in the que!
5: Don't eat food before giving a bit to the Jowtee!
6: Don't drink alcohol before giving it to the Jowtee!
7: Don't piss outside before saying sorry to the dead....?
8: Don't fuck 5 year olds unless you are "well connected"
9: Don't drive past some of those stupid fuckin Jowtee sites without tooting your horn three times..anyone been on the road from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai will know what I mean!
10: Don't get pissed and crash your car and end up in one of those "red pickups"... You have effectively brought DEATH home, boy the feet scrubbing they do is unbelievable, even when you could be bleeding to death, those feet will be scrubbed in a serious manner before you can be whisked off to hospital! ( been there done that..LOL)

[Bung]

I was in Phuket a few years ago, shortly after the tsunami. Loads of Thais told me that they wouldn't go near the beaches there because of all the spirits wandering around. Some of them wouldn't even look at the beaches while walking past.

My Mrs said the same thing. Apparently there are lots of Farang spirits still there as a lot didn't have the Buddhist rites.

I said "so there are a lot a fat Germans in speedo ghosts wandering around Phuket then?"

No wonder they don't want to go back.