Pig's Head Ceremony

[camerata]

I've been told several times that in Thailand there is a Buddhist ceremony involving a pig's head, but I never managed to get to the bottom of it. However, according to this John Hoskin article on Thai Brahmanism and Buddhism, the pig's head seems to be a Brahman offering:

"Among ordinary people, the Brahmans are called upon to perform a variety of rites, such as the setting of a spirit house, the laying of a building's foundation stone, weddings, pre-ordination ceremonies and various other occasions at homes, offices, schools and shops where blessing is given through worship and propitiatory duties.

At these times the priests will recite incantations of invitation to the dhevas (gods) and make offerings of candles, incense and flowers. Spirits will also be appeased by lavish food offerings of, most traditionally, a pig's head, fish, chicken and other delicacies."

According to the article, candlelit processions around temples are also a Brahman tradition:

"The five precepts of Buddhism and its four Divine States of Mind (Phromvihara Si -- loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity) are concepts held equally by Brahmans and in part originated from that earlier religion. Indeed Buddhism has adopted much from Brahman practice. Most obviously, the custom of holding candlelit processions around temples on major Buddhist festivals (prataksin) is a Brahman practice, the belief being that anything within the circle of candlelight anything with in the circle of candlelight will be blessed. The Brahman usage of this is commonly seen at the pre-ordination ceremony of Buddhist monks when, in the home of the novice, a Brahman priest will carry a lighted ceremonial candle around the celebrant and his family.

Moreover, Buddhism with its emphasis on the transcendence of earthly cares leaves scope for popular beliefs and rituals that address problems of daily life. Hence the enormous popularity of, for example, the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok where the status of Brahma is widely regarded as a potent source of good fortune, benevolently granting all nature of wishes. There is nothing in Buddhism to contradict such practices. "

As for Brahma worship, I've read two different opinions. On the one hand that it is a Brahman/Animist practice, and on the other that it is a Buddhist practice directed at Brahma Sahampati of the Fine-Material Realm.