Weirdest Thing I'Ve Ever Seen

[Livinginexile]

A mate of mine and his Thai wife have recently had a beautiful baby girl.

I was around their house on the weekend and during feeding the baby coughed a little and suddenly the mother lifted the baby up and blew three times across the baby's head!

Later in the day the Grandmother did the same thing when the baby coughed. WHEW...WHEW...WHEW, three times across the baby's head.

It was done vigorously and in a spooky ritualistic manner.

They did it every time the baby coughed or burped. You had to be there to see how weird it was.

Asked my mate what it was all about and he didn't have a clue. My Thai wife said she'd never seen it before but seen it on TV once or twice by monks.

Is it a black magic thing? warding off evil spirits?

I\m fasinated, love to know what it was all about.

[slapout]

Its similar to not stepping on a crack on the footpath. Baby cannot go out for the first month, head shaving will come next, it goes on and on. The most disgusting is when the adult chews the food to feed to the baby. Just be glad your not directly involved.

[Metapod]

Its similar to not stepping on a crack on the footpath. Baby cannot go out for the first month, head shaving will come next, it goes on and on. The most disgusting is when the adult chews the food to feed to the baby. Just be glad your not directly involved.

If it is good enough for birds, it is good enough for me.

[Atmos]

last year we had my partner's sister-in-law and baby staying with us; the little boy cried and cried . . . decision was made to take him to the monks; there was a short prayer from the monk then the three (as you put it) whews across his face.

I has told he (baby) had a ghost; having suffered through his crying i was prepared to believe anything, and demonic possession was high on my list (spawn of satan!)

He did calm down for a while. I suggested they leave him there, as he was far more peaceful.

I maintain it was the excitement of a ten minute ride on a motor bike, but of course this 'cure', short-term as it was, further reinforces the belief.

[sbk]

Haven't seen the blowing thing ---where is the family from? maybe its regional?

[Richb2004v2]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

[Livinginexile]

Haven't seen the blowing thing ---where is the family from? maybe its regional?

They are from Surin.

I'm guessing it's to blow away any evil spirits that are trying to enter the babies mouth, that's why the baby is coughing.

Only a guess mind you.

[Travel2003]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

What people?

[sbk]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

What people?

Dunno, maybe the same kind of people who knock on wood? or throw salt over their shoulder? or say God bless you when someone sneezes?

Everyone's got their weird little superstitions. I imagine if the baby had a serious cough they would take it to a doctor.

[sotsira]

I can understand the superstitions and cultural differences,

but the Thai infatuation about ghosts is beyond belief, you've only

got to put the TV on, watch a Thai movie and sure enough there'll be a

ghost story. Im sure it's drummed in to them from childhood to believe in ghosts.

[Richb2004v2]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

What people?

You know, these filthy johnny foreigners. Blasted sootie faced imbeciles all of them, what.

[Latindancer]

When my wife and I got married, the guests came up one by one, tied separate cotton threads around my wrist and hers, whispered a few words over them, tweaked the knot a little and sometimes blew on it too. I think it's a Buddhist blessing thing.

"You know, these filthy johnny foreigners. Blasted sootie faced imbeciles all of them, what."

Yes...."The Natives"

I once had a dentist in the Chiang Mai Dental Hospital named Mr Sooty-pong ( though he probably wrote it "Suttiphong" ).

Damned nice guy, actually....and a fine dentist.

[evanson]

They'll also give the newborn a really mean nick name to ward off 'jealous spirits. Last one I heard was 'hua men' or 'stinky head'.

Well be a dull old world if folk were all the same ...

[David006]

having never seen a ghost or whatever..my dad has and the wifes daughter seen lady in white at sundown on our farm road...recently the wife told me that my niece and her boy friend both saw a lady with plastered hair over her face walk past their room in Kata ( Tsunami victim maybe??) the wifes daughter could not see anything...! Always seeing "shapes" around our house on the farm me but then I drink Archa... think the jury is out still for me...don't push your luck mates!!

[GarryP]

Actually not weird at all and very common. If blowing on the head it is called pao kamom among others. Blowing on other parts of the body would be called pao piang, om piang, etc. And it is done to blow away the pain or sickness. Originally it was done with a ritual chant but nowadays the chant part is not so common, unless done by monks.

When a little kid falls over and grazes his knee, he/she may run to mum or granny in tears and they will then blow away the pain for the child.

[Livinginexile]

Actually not weird at all and very common. If blowing on the head it is called pao kamom among others. Blowing on other parts of the body would be called pao piang, om piang, etc. And it is done to blow away the pain or sickness. Originally it was done with a ritual chant but nowadays the chant part is not so common, unless done by monks.

When a little kid falls over and grazes his knee, he/she may run to mum or granny in tears and they will then blow away the pain for the child.

Thanks Garry, that makes sense. Sort of like kissing it better.

I like this one better than the black magic option.

[h90]

superstition I think

[Xangsamhua]

I can understand the superstitions and cultural differences,

but the Thai infatuation about ghosts is beyond belief, you've only

got to put the TV on, watch a Thai movie and sure enough there'll be a

ghost story. Im sure it's drummed in to them from childhood to believe in ghosts.

It's a safe topic.

Shows about politics, social issues, anything in which a political leader, general, monk, doctor, school principal, etc makes a mistake or does the wrong thing would be in danger of offending people of influence

[Tonto21]

They'll also give the newborn a really mean nick name to ward off 'jealous spirits. Last one I heard was 'hua men' or 'stinky head'.

Well be a dull old world if folk were all the same ...

Yes, dull it would be!

Just to add to your post 'evanson' when the baby gets introduced to people in the village, most people will loudly say things like; hes very ugly and hasnt he got big ears and a big nose This, along with an ugly name, its hoped the sprits will leave the baby alone.

[Richb2004v2]

Actually not weird at all and very common. If blowing on the head it is called pao kamom among others. Blowing on other parts of the body would be called pao piang, om piang, etc. And it is done to blow away the pain or sickness. Originally it was done with a ritual chant but nowadays the chant part is not so common, unless done by monks.

When a little kid falls over and grazes his knee, he/she may run to mum or granny in tears and they will then blow away the pain for the child.

That's true. I may have been a tad hastie in my bashing there. It's probably a lot like having mother rub it better, or as you say kiss it better.

[afarang]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

Am I to take you seriously , or are you being ? What this sounds like to me is a part of their ANIMIST beliefs.Many , particularly Isarn people are not really Buddhists. Most still follow their Animist, beliefs , which came to Thailand (originally) some time after Hinduism disappeared, Long before Buddhism arrived, here.

[andrewbkk]

Haven't seen the blowing thing ---where is the family from? maybe its regional?

They are from Surin.

I think you'll find it's a Khmer thing.

Apparently people Buriram, Surin and Si Saket are sometimes thought by other Thais to practice a kind of black magic. I've heard this quite a lot.

I've met Thais who are actually scared of these people.

[Ulysses G.]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

What people?

You know, these filthy johnny foreigners. Blasted sootie faced imbeciles all of them, what.

White man's burden old chap.

[afarang]

Haven't seen the blowing thing ---where is the family from? maybe its regional?

They are from Surin.

I think you'll find it's a Khmer thing.

Apparently people Buriram, Surin and Si Saket are sometimes thought by other Thais to practice a kind of black magic. I've heard this quite a lot.

I've met Thais who are actually scared of these people.

Please ,it is not black magic. Simply put their primary belief system is Animism.

[Richb2004v2]

Haven't seen the blowing thing ---where is the family from? maybe its regional?

They are from Surin.

I think you'll find it's a Khmer thing.

Apparently people Buriram, Surin and Si Saket are sometimes thought by other Thais to practice a kind of black magic. I've heard this quite a lot.

I've met Thais who are actually scared of these people.

Please ,it is not black magic. Simply put their primary belief system is Animism.

You're a regular Animism public relations man aren't you.

[StreetCowboy]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

What people?

I think he means people in general

SC

[afarang]

No, but I am distressed when people, in their ignorance, refer to their primary belief system as as black magic.When you live amongst them ,as I do ,it is very easy to understand. They are not really Buddhists. They have practiced Animism for around 600 years. I don't profess to know everything about it,far from it. I just accept it for what it is ,their primary belief system.

[Travel2003]

Just another example of the unfortunate backward nature of these people.

What people?

I think he means people in general

SC

Thats what I thought.

I know Thai nationals which range from those believing in all this suff, to the ones not believeing in anything at all.

Same as with the countries in the western world, as farther out in the countryside one get, as more they believe in stuff.

Remember when I joined the navy many years ago, my colleagues basically made me believe in a lot things I just smile and shake my head about today.

Of course, being a person who doesnt believe in this stuff, I'm amazed sometimes in what some people can believe in.

Walking on water and healing comes to mind.

spelling

[mario299]

No, but I am distressed when people, in their ignorance, refer to their primary belief system as as black magic.When you live amongst them ,as I do ,it is very easy to understand. They are not really Buddhists. They have practiced Animism for around 600 years. I don't profess to know everything about it,far from it. I just accept it for what it is ,their primary belief system.

Kind of like, "if you don't believe what I believe then you are wrong."

These people, like afarang says, totally believe in their ghosts and signs and lucky numbers. Who the heck are you to say they are wrong just because they don't believe the same things as you?

Ignorance on your part for sure.

[andrewbkk]

Haven't seen the blowing thing ---where is the family from? maybe its regional?

They are from Surin.

I think you'll find it's a Khmer thing.

Apparently people Buriram, Surin and Si Saket are sometimes thought by other Thais to practice a kind of black magic. I've heard this quite a lot.

I've met Thais who are actually scared of these people.

Please ,it is not black magic. Simply put their primary belief system is Animism.

Yes, but English-speaking Thai people I've met DO refer to it as black magic.

I've heard that these people can put you into a trance, and apparently some of the women can quite literally make men fall in love with them.

I once met an educated man from Burma who believed exactly these things. He was teacher at one of the top private schools in central BKK.