If There About 10% Of Thai-Chinese Descendants, Why Almost All Thais Celebrate The Chinese New Year?

[Bluetongue]

Thais sometimes use the word "chinee" to denote a loan but I dont think it is for an intra family one for instance, but one from a money lender. Does anyone know if thats related to chinese ethnic background people?

Otherwise I guess I'll find out about school stopping on Monday, but here the niece is doing pigfaces and fireworks as her son was fathered by a rich Chinese families wastrel gangster son.

My wife is washing the cars prior to replacing flowers and giving them a drink of orange juice for no reason at all other than she is caught up in the hype created in the market by all the Chinese businesses

[David48]

No. I meant people who are descended from a Chinese ancestor. That defines descendant.

Seems time to learn more about my African roots ... the cradle of mankind.

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[StreetCowboy]

No. I meant people who are descended from a Chinese ancestor. That defines descendant.

Seems time to learn more about my African roots ... the cradle of mankind.

.

I quite often drink milk. I think it's because Genghis Khan is one of my ancestors. I wasn't very good at riding a horse, though, so he was probably only one of my ancestors.

SC

[Will2011]

No. I meant people who are descended from a Chinese ancestor. That defines descendant.

Seems time to learn more about my African roots ... the cradle of mankind.

.

I quite often drink milk. I think it's because Genghis Khan is one of my ancestors. I wasn't very good at riding a horse, though, so he was probably only one of my ancestors.

SC

Let's focus on the topic only guys. Thank you.

[StreetCowboy]

No. I meant people who are descended from a Chinese ancestor. That defines descendant.

Seems time to learn more about my African roots ... the cradle of mankind.

.

I quite often drink milk. I think it's because Genghis Khan is one of my ancestors. I wasn't very good at riding a horse, though, so he was probably only one of my ancestors.

SC

Let's focus on the topic only guys. Thank you.

I think you'll find that all Thais have Chinese ancestors, except for perhaps chaps like Samran. But some of them no more consider themselves Chinese than I consider myself a Mongol, as the link is so distant and such a small part of their ancestry. Perhaps we could get JT to re-issue his discourse on the non-existence of race

SC

[IMA_FARANG]

No. I meant people who are descended from a Chinese ancestor. That defines descendant.

What's your definition's difference to a chinese family who came to live inThailand 5 generations ago?

No. I meant people who are descended from a Chinese ancestor. That defines descendant.

What's your definition's difference to a chinese family who came to live inThailand 5 generations ago?

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Thai/Chinese

Depends on the family, but they often go back 3 or 4 generations and still call themselves Chinese even thoigh they speak fluent Thai.

Just like, as someone mentioned above, the Irish in the U.S. may have been in the U.S. for over 100 years but still say they are Irish.

All over S.E. Asia the "overseas" Chinese are often dominent and/or in high positions in their host country ... even after 3 or 4 generations in that country.

When I first came to Thailand i often stayed (sometimes for an extended time) in a small guesthouse rin by a Thai/Chinese family.

They thought of themselves as Thai. but they still felt more Chinese than Thai even after over 100 years here.

[nong38]

Its a a business opportunity and you know how good Thais are about business, very optimistic. Did you ever wonder how much they pay for those advertising banners that go from one side of the street to the other, how much they pay for their pitch? You would wonder why they bother, they will tell you they sell well but forget to factor in the costs, the true costs, the people who really do well are the ones who rent out the space to the "business people/traders" and hang the banners across the road, The banners across the road started off at 100's but every year it goes up and its now in the 1000's, no wonder they were up well before the official start day and will be still up a long time after the event is over.

[CharlieH]

The reason I think is quite simple, just like they celebrate Christmas, the western New Year, and practically ALL the other numerous festivals etc is its just an excuse to stop work and get totally pissed.

It also enables the business world to cash-in on yet another date.

[David48]

The reason I think is quite simple, just like they celebrate Christmas, the western New Year, and practically ALL the other numerous festivals etc is its just an excuse to stop work and get totally pissed.

It also enables the business world to cash-in on yet another date.

Few of the extended Thai Family I stayed with drink, none drink on a regular basis ... but they do celebrate the Chinese New Year ...

Why ... it's was when the salaried in the Family were paid their annual bonus by the Chinese Boss.

If it was left up to the Family's Parents ... there would be no recognition of Christmas.

As for getting pissed ... please don't slur all the Thais with the same brush.

Your mileage does vary significantly from mine.

[Nana Cowboy]

a better question might be why do they celebrate Jan 1 new year

[StreetCowboy]

a better question might be why do they celebrate Jan 1 new year

I think because it's the start of the year. They aligned their calendar with the rest of the world some time back, for convenience. I don't think that Hogmanay and New Year's Day mark anything of cultural significance other than the passing of the year. Now if they were to swing fireballs on New Year's Eve, that might be surprising.

SC

[jbrain]

If There About 10% Of Thai-Chinese Descendants, Why Almost All Thais Celebrate The Chinese New Year?

Reading how many TV members are married with a High-So from Chinese descendant, it is clear that the figures in the OP are waaaaay under rated

[h90]

I think you'll find that all Thais have Chinese ancestors, except for perhaps chaps like Samran. But some of them no more consider themselves Chinese than I consider myself a Mongol, as the link is so distant and such a small part of their ancestry. Perhaps we could get JT to re-issue his discourse on the non-existence of race

SC

It is not a race thing it is a cultural thing....but of course there are ethnic differences between the usual Thai and Chinese. Chinese get bald and loose their teeth like Europeans for example....no point of denying that there are differences between people.

But their hard working and love for education is a cultural thing.

[JurgenG]

The thread is concerning New Year celebrations. It is not unreasonable to consider the western New Year as being over 2000 years old, so if you go back that far in Thailand you find the southern immigrants from china.

Most of the surveys seem to judge "chinese-ness" by what language they use as their first language...

Thai Chinese make up 14 percent

http://en.wikipedia....ics_of_Thailand

Interesting discourse on the topìc -- sorry for the ugly url

http://books.google....ulation&f=false

Your second link is quite interesting.

Many of the "Chinese" new elite were those who had become assimilated into Thai society and who ranked high on Skinner's scale of "Thainess".

That send a clear message for those who want a future in Thailand ...

[Semper]

a better question might be why do they celebrate Jan 1 new year

They celebrate anything in Thailand, even funerals.

[Will2011]

a better question might be why do they celebrate Jan 1 new year

Keep in mind that Europeans, especially Portuguese came to Thailand 500 years ago. Portuguese came with missionaries as a way to export christianity. An other example is Thai desserts. Many of them are from Portugal, mainly those made with eggs such as the Portuguese tart. As a result, it is not surprising to see Thais celebrating Christmas and New Year as the western culture was implemented a long time ago. I even have one Thai friend who is 100% Christian and it didnt happen because of Chinese

[Pakboong]

The latest wave of Chinese immigrants is the one which exerts the greatest influence on Thailand and Thai politics. This particular group were the capitalist Chinese who moved their vast family wealth to escape Communism. Many moved in anticipation of the Communist takeover as early as the early 1900s. Of course there were earlier groups often called the coolie immigrants who were the working poor who moved for their own economic reasons as far back as several hundred years. The latest wave of immigrants seldom if ever intermarry with the local population.