Unusual Songkran Traditions........

[theblether]

I was at dinner last night and I noticed that the majority of the younger staff ( let's say 18 - 23 ) had died their hair all types of colours. I enquired if it was some type of new fashion, and was told that a lot of young people dyed their hair for Songkran.

I didn't get to the bottom of whether this was a tradition or a modern twist, ( and to be fair the delicious food took precedence over interrogating my host ), however it got me thinking that I don't know a lot about Songkran traditions. So, is this hair dyeing a modern twist? What are the Songkran traditions that you enjoy most? and are there any traditions unique to your local area?

[DocN]

I enjoy the festival in its total.

The water, the dancing, the alcohol...

There are only two things that annoy the h3ll out of me:

1) the stupidity of some people, resulting in accidents and deaths

2) it is too long. The first day is fun and wild and crazy...the second day is okay...after that...just leave me alone!

[theblether]

I can go with that.....I'm looking forward to wandering around with my camera and getting some snaps, but I know I'm gonna end up saturated and feeling grubby.

I was wondering more along the lines of old school Songkran traditions?

[noahvail]

My wife and I walk around to the elders, and pour scented water over their hands. In return for that, we get their blessings for another year. Other than that, my wife locks her shop, we stay by the house, and enjoy each other's company for three days.

[muythai2013]

many festivals have thais dressing crazy, men dressing like woman, both dressing as silly as possible, just for fun.

i'm guessing they dye their hair just for a laugh, getting into the joyful spirit.

[pattayadingo]

When out in the sticks, yes the water on the Matriarch's hands was the main point of it all.

The rest was mayhem with family having a great time, music, party, dunking each other in a big pool of water, but no weird hair do's.

[theblether]

So basically the hair dyeing is just a modern twist......I was reading today that the Yunnan province in China celebrates Songkran, has anyone experienced Songkran there?

[IMA_FARANG]

I'm an old git also.

First came to Thailand in 1977 (but haven't been here all that time).

I can honestly remember when the bargirls on Patpong (long before it was little more than a d-mned tourist ripoff market like it is now) would do this for Songkran.

1. Carry a small bucket of water.

2. Sprinkle a little water on your face and possibly your head

3. Dab a little white powder on your cheeks.

4. And finally give you a Wai and often a kiss.

Seriously, no water guns even.

[David48]

I've always wanted to know the tradition of the white clay they mix into a bowl with water and smear on your face.

I asked the Lassie and she sort gave a guess of it represents the white talc powder, Thais are so fond of after a shower.

But guessing that her answer is more deduction then knowledge.

.

[David48]

This will draw the ire of the crowd but ...

... must admit, I love Songkran ... but refuse to go where there are Farangs.

.

[FunFon]

1. Carry a small bucket of water.

2. Sprinkle a little water on your face and possibly your head

3. Dab a little white powder on your cheeks.

4. And finally give you a Wai

-

The above is tradition.

The wilder aspects are all modern "enhancements"

And completely agree on the advice to avoid farang areas, they're the worst.

I've dreamed of "hiring" a full-on firetruck from the local lads and running down Silom blast-washing the crowds away with the full-pressure hose. . .

[phuketjock]

@theblether.

The hair dyeing is a very recent, Thai teenagers, Songkhran fashion addition as I first discovered

last year when my step son ( 11 then ) turned up with orange hair, and his friends with various

different colours on show. I am sure when we arrive up in my wifes hometown in a few days we

will be in for another hair raising surprise haha. It doesn't seem to be restricted only to teens either

, a bit of fun I think at the new year, not unlike we used to get up to on hogmany eh?

From my faded memory of Songkhran in south Thailand some years ago it was traditional to visit

family and elders and douse each others hands and sometimes as far as shoulders with water,

while the younger ones of course found it much more fun to soak everyone in sight, but no water

pistols or ice water then. The talcum powder came into it, I think, because Thais are, as I am sure

you have seen, addicted to the stuff so it gives the young boys and girls an opportunity to touch

each other, if only a pat on the cheek, once a year when it was allowed openly by elders.

Of course things have drastically moved on from then here and in the west, sadly in some ways imo

but that is the way the world moves, some call it progress.

[dave2]

re

And completely agree on the advice to avoid farang areas, they're the worst.

stay away from outside the amora ( about 5 ) lucky bar ,

power bar , ba ba bo bo bar ( about 8 )and loi kroh road coz

theyve started two days early : (

dave2

[krisb]

Who knows why they lots of things, but as the song goes...We're never gonna survive unless, we get a little crazy. Great song by Seal, comes to mind when Thailand throws a party. I'm sure a week long water fight wouldn't work in the middle of winter in Glasgow??

[theblether]

Who knows why they lots of things, but as the song goes...We're never gonna survive unless, we get a little crazy. Great song by Seal, comes to mind when Thailand throws a party. I'm sure a week long water fight wouldn't work in the middle of winter in Glasgow??

We get soaked enough as it is

[MrHammer]

I sincerely hope Songkran isn't as crazy in Thong Lor. I've done the whole Kao San/Central World thing and yes it's fun for about 30 minutes and then it's just a bunch of drunk people misbehaving with particularly the idiot Marbella and Sunny Beach crowd making fools of themselves.

[FunFon]

I sincerely hope Songkran isn't as crazy in Thong Lor. I've done the whole Kao San/Central World thing and yes it's fun for about 30 minutes and then it's just a bunch of drunk people misbehaving with particularly the idiot Marbella and Sunny Beach crowd making fools of themselves.

-

It's not quite as violent, but absolutely no chance of avoiding getting soaked if you go out between noon and dark unless you can get in a car right at your home.

[muchogra]

Unlike decades ago, they splashed you no matter how you dressed. The present years, in Bangkok, that is, they see you dressed like an adult, they ask if they can pour some water onto you. But if you dress in shorts and slippers, no question asked! Farangs like fun, huh? Some farangs carry it too far! Immaturity or not respecting?

[Tchooptip]

Unusual Songkran Traditions...

if unusual how can it be tradition?

[FunFon]

Today at the inlaws aunty stopped by with a big pot of special chicken soup she'd whipped up for the honoured farang guests.

My son says "oh oh looks like the ants got into it".

Uncle says "no, that's the way we make the soup, two big scoops of ants gives the soup a nice "preeow" flavour!"

Everyone was amazed that the honoured guests didn't want to eat the ants, afraid we hurt their feelings.

Not a Songkran specific tradition, but certainly unusual from our POV. . .

[krisb]

Unusual Songkran Traditions...

if unusual how can it be tradition?

You can have unusual traditions. It's something that's part of the tradition yet a bit unusual.

[Dancealot]

I've always wanted to know the tradition of the white clay they mix into a bowl with water and smear on your face.

I asked the Lassie and she sort gave a guess of it represents the white talc powder, Thais are so fond of after a shower.

But guessing that her answer is more deduction then knowledge.

.

The powder is turned into clay after combining it with water. Great sunblock!

The hair dying is because they dont have to go to school and simply because they can.

[theblether]

Unusual Songkran Traditions...

if unusual how can it be tradition?

We Scots turn up at people's doors with a lump of coal just after the bells at Hogmanay............traditional, yes? unusual? I rest my case.

So what do the Thais do that's both traditional and unusual?

[Dancealot]

Today at the inlaws aunty stopped by with a big pot of special chicken soup she'd whipped up for the honoured farang guests.

My son says "oh oh looks like the ants got into it".

Uncle says "no, that's the way we make the soup, two big scoops of ants gives the soup a nice "preeow" flavour!"

Everyone was amazed that the honoured guests didn't want to eat the ants, afraid we hurt their feelings.

Not a Songkran specific tradition, but certainly unusual from our POV. . .

Did you forget to take your ritalin?

[Scully]

Today at the inlaws aunty stopped by with a big pot of special chicken soup she'd whipped up for the honoured farang guests.

My son says "oh oh looks like the ants got into it".

Uncle says "no, that's the way we make the soup, two big scoops of ants gives the soup a nice "preeow" flavour!"

Everyone was amazed that the honoured guests didn't want to eat the ants, afraid we hurt their feelings.

Not a Songkran specific tradition, but certainly unusual from our POV. . .

They are a certain type of ant, expensive and hard to find, and add to the flavour, very nice.

Oh by the way I will eat anything but the frog curry, its the frog eggs that put me off

[metisdead]

Unusual Songkran Traditions........, posts not related to this line of thought have been removed.

[Hedghog]

Unusual Songkran Traditions...

if unusual how can it be tradition?

We Scots turn up at people's doors with a lump of coal just after the bells at Hogmanay............traditional, yes? unusual? I rest my case.

So what do the Thais do that's both traditional and unusual?

Known as first footing.