3 minutes ago, kickstart said:

,tomorrow is the last day ,when every one goes out for the day and spend lots of money.

Not me. 
ill be staying in all day watching my columbo box set.

 

Curtains will be drawn from morning till night. 

4 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I doubt if you'll be missed.

You are probably right mate.

53 minutes ago, WineOh said:

Not for me.

 

That plane ticket back to the west is looking more appetizing by the day!

Let's see how bad it gets, once I reach my threshold i'm outta here.

I recall you saying something very similar before . You didnt go anywhere.

 

As for this not being China, its not the west either but didnt see you moaning as much about Christmas, that isnt a traditional Thai thing either, but given the huge Chinese heritage is it really that surprising that the biggest Chines population outside of mainland China celebrate their New Year.

 

 

3 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

I recall you saying something very similar before . You didnt go anywhere.

 

As for this not being China, its not the west either but didnt see you moaning as much about Christmas, that isnt a traditional Thai thing either, but given the huge Chinese heritage is it really that surprising that the biggest Chines population outside of mainland China celebrate their New Year.

 

 

I wont be celebrating and I find it appalling that kids are being forced to celebrate it in schools too. 
 

this is not china!

2 minutes ago, WineOh said:

I wont be celebrating and I find it appalling that kids are being forced to celebrate it in schools too. 
 

this is not china!

Nobody is asking you to celebrate, just have tolerance for those that choose to as its their belief and heritage. Live n let live.

Thais love their holidays. It is an excuse to get all dolled up and celebrate something, during these gloomy times. Let's give them that. 

 

I don't see a big conspiracy here. 

I am hearing a lot of fireworks in my mooban village right now as I write. Mind you this is NOT Chinatown but 20 minutes drive away from Chiang Mai city.

 

It shows there are many ethnic Chinese with Thai citizenship in Thailand.

 

http://eastasiaorigin.blogspot.com/2017/07/main-ethnicities-in-thailand.html

2 minutes ago, WineOh said:

I wont be celebrating and I find it appalling that kids are being forced to celebrate it in schools too. 
 

this is not china!

I'll donate if we crowd fund a one way ticket out of Thailand, if you really don't like it here.

14 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

but given the huge Chinese heritage is it really that surprising that the biggest Chines population outside of mainland China celebrate their New Year.

 

 

 

Somebody else is being quite ignorant that Thailand is a multi-ethnic country.

 

Ethnic Chinese born in Thailand is actually the largest ethnic minority in Thailand.

Just now, CharlieH said:

Nobody is asking you to celebrate, j7st have tolerance for those that choose to as its their belief and heritage. Live n let live.

When I was driving my bike today some clown let off a load of firecrackers in the street. I almost crashed my bike into a young woman holding a baby from the shock, i thought it was a bomb..

 

live and let live? Could have been a whole different story today.
 

32 minutes ago, WineOh said:

When I was driving my bike today some clown let off a load of firecrackers in the street. I almost crashed my bike into a young woman holding a baby from the shock, i thought it was a bomb..

 

live and let live? Could have been a whole different story today.
 

I wish i could answer that in the way it deserves, alas forum rules and position do not permit.

 

Have a great day.

6 minutes ago, WineOh said:

When I was driving my bike today some clown let off a load of firecrackers in the street. I almost crashed my bike into a young woman holding a baby from the shock, i thought it was a bomb..

 

 

I remember some kid splashed water on me while I was riding my bike during Songkran. That nearly made me crash my bike.

 

We have to get used to that if we want to live in Thailand. We shouldn't curse their festivals.

 

Ethnic Chinese born in Thailand is the largest ethnic minority in Thailand. So now you know.

34 minutes ago, WineOh said:

Which China caused, btw.

Alrighty then.

Xenophobia is not something you are born with, it is a learned behavior. 

It's all good man, chill

People like to celebrate and dress up and show their thanks

1 minute ago, EricTh said:

We don't curse their festivals

Chinese new year is NOT their festival.

 

the clue is in the name.

 

I once had to do some work for a well known international bank in Singapore, starting CI..

 

It was my second day sat at my desk trying to get to grips with the task at hand, a huge banging started and I saw everyone standing up - a few mins later a large Chinese Dragon came around the office with large fan-fare.  Lasted a while . 

 

Was a great  night.

 

Many places celebrate it. The Chinese influence will continue to grow. 

 

You know, Chineses now have big money.

So, this is the main reason.

10 minutes ago, WineOh said:

I was driving my bike today some clown let off a load of firecrackers in the street. I almost crashed my bike

If you are driving a bicycle I can relate.

Anything with a internal combustion engine isn't right ✌️????

1 hour ago, sanmyintmaung said:

Most probably a marketing gimmick to lure Chinese Thais. 

 

     What other Thais are there ? 

     Laos  Thais , second class,  omb .

 Usually  found in the North East of the Kingdom .

  Pre Covid .  Pattaya ? ..555

      

2 minutes ago, zhounan said:

You know, Chineses now have big money.

So, this is the main reason.

Its all they care about in this part of the world isnt it.

 

GDP. Money money money. 

3 minutes ago, Catkiwi said:

My wife's family are of Chinese heritage, now into their 5th generation

What’s your point?

1 minute ago, WineOh said:

What’s your point?

Just saying that there is a large contingent of Thailand's population that have every right to celebrate Chinese New Year. Why does that bother you to the point of feeling compelled to start a thread denouncing the whole tradition? 

Just for the record.

 

"Thailand has the largest overseas Chinese community in the world outside Greater China. 11 to 14 percent of Thailand's population are considered ethnic Chinese. The Thai linguist Theraphan Luangthongkum claim the share of those having at least partial Chinese ancestry at about 40 percent of the Thai population.

 

source

 

For perspective that 40% equates to around 25 million people.

Sudden fascination? And you've been in Thailand for how long? 

 

You're in for a real shock on December 31st.

1 hour ago, WineOh said:

errr, correct me if i'm wrong but this is THAILAND.

Last time I checked I wasn't living in CHINA.

 

Why on earth is chinese new year now a public holiday in Thailand?

what the hell is going on!

 

Let me guess... you're new here?

 

32 minutes ago, WineOh said:

Its all they care about in this part of the world isnt it.

 

GDP. Money money money. 

 

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Exactly that and nothing new or more than other years.

At MAKRO they sell expensive fruits/food directed to the Thai Chinese community.

Recently they played "Jingle Bells" in Chinese

 

 

 

I prefer the French version; Shingle Belles.

... just call it the Lunar New Year...    so no other surrounding, and equally deserving asian culture gets minimised

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Considering the Chinese population and heritage within the Thai population its hardly surprising and in my area its pretty much the same every year.

Ok fair that the Chinese celebrate their public holiday but to make every Thai observe a foreign public holiday is a stretch because there are actually millions of Thais with no relation to China whatsoever. 

2 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

Ok fair that the Chinese celebrate their public holiday but to make every Thai observe a foreign public holiday is a stretch because there are actually millions of Thais with no relation to China whatsoever. 

They are not "making every Thai observe" It has been declared a government holiday. Therefore, government run departments etc. will not be open. Everyone else is free to carry on and celebrate, or not, as they wish.

4 hours ago, WineOh said:

Never seen it before.

everyone seems to be dressed in red chinese style outfits.

The girls look cute dont get me wrong, but it's new to me.

 

Is this a state sponsored push of chinese nationalism due to the covid pandemic?

are they forcing thais to be more china centric this year?

even in my local 7/11 they are all kitted out in chinese uniforms.

 

tbh, china can do one after what they have bestowed upon the world.

That's my thoughts on the matter anyway.

Where were you for the past 2500 or so years?!