Does your Thai family celebrates birthdays?

[Crazy chef 1]

It seems my wife's family doesn't sees it as an important day.they don't even know when they have BD and hence don't celebrate it or call nor any presents are given...

Out of the last 5 years my wife forgot my one three times.ok we all are getting older but I think a birthday should be a special day....

How is it in your family???

[pinkpanther99]

Same here, mine dont seem to celebrate it either. One of the sister in laws kids might get a cake from Svensens or something but certainly not any presents and it is just pretty much taken as a normal day.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I think it's a common knowledge Thais don't really celebrate it.

My "hiso" gf surely did for convenience.

My current one doesn't, but she will remember it and always asks me what I want.

[thehelmsman]

I think it's a common knowledge Thais don't really celebrate it.

My "hiso" gf surely did for convenience.

My current one doesn't, but she will remember it and always asks me what I want.

Thais don't celebrate birthdays...really? You don't so all Thais don't.

So, at our house birthdays are always celebrated, adults and kids alike. We buy the gelatin style cakes for the kids, easy for them to eat. balloons, music, some easy foods like buffalo wings, yam, couple boxes of Leo, 3 to 4 bottles of booze. The kids run wild, the ladies on the soi come over to help cook the food, sing Happy Birthday. Presents not necessary.

[MaeJoMTB]

Only if they think I will buy presents.

[NickJ]

Over 10 years I was with my ex......The entire time I got 2 gifts. A shirt that I could not pull over my shoulders. Fit her better. And a CD of a band I never liked or listened to.......However, her birthday always involved parties and trips and of course....Gold. .........The new one, complete opposite......

[pgrahmm]

Yes - we do with a cake and the bday song for the adults with candles ablaze....The kids will get a couple of things for gifts......

If the entire family is together (11) then a meal togther somewhere.....

I just had mine → walked out of the shower and straight into a birthday cake with 5 happy faces singing and one taking a video.....They wanted to surprise me - WORKED - 5 days before my bday (we were visiting family and wouldn't have been there for the actual day and they thoughtfully wanted to be part of it)......

Some do.....They're all marked on the calendar......If far apart we sing over the phone......

Edited October 14, 2015 by pgrahmm

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I think it's a common knowledge Thais don't really celebrate it.

My "hiso" gf surely did for convenience.

My current one doesn't, but she will remember it and always asks me what I want.

Thais don't celebrate birthdays...really? You don't so all Thais don't.

So, at our house birthdays are always celebrated, adults and kids alike. We buy the gelatin style cakes for the kids, easy for them to eat. balloons, music, some easy foods like buffalo wings, yam, couple boxes of Leo, 3 to 4 bottles of booze. The kids run wild, the ladies on the soi come over to help cook the food, sing Happy Birthday. Presents not necessary.

Who cares what farang house does and how he keeps the village entertained.

[gomangosteen]

I think it's a common knowledge Thais don't really celebrate it.

My partner's family - they're certainly acknowledged, and phone calls on the day between the scattered family members; for my partner,standard is a visit to the temple, a phone call to her mother, the office staff where she works give gifts, and they go out for lunch together. We'll go out with friends in the evening, no 'party' but a nice get-together

Last week, the company manager's birthday. Large highway/bridge building business across four provinces, my partner and other senior staff accompanied manager to her temple about 30km away, then restaurant for long lunch and office didn't re-open that day, all staff allowed home 3pm.

That our local shops sell an array of Thai birthday cards, and not just ones aimed at children, might suggest it's not as rare as some think.

Edited October 14, 2015 by gomangosteen

[stoneyboy]

I think it's a common knowledge Thais don't really celebrate it.

My partner's family - they're certainly acknowledged, and phone calls on the day between the scattered family members; for my partner,standard is a visit to the temple, a phone call to her mother, the office staff where she works give gifts, and they go out for lunch together. We'll go out with friends in the evening, no 'party' but a nice get-together

Last week, the company manager's birthday. Large highway/bridge building business across four provinces, my partner and other senior staff accompanied manager to her temple about 30km away, then restaurant for long lunch and office didn't re-open that day, all staff allowed home 3pm.

That our local shops sell an array of Thai birthday cards, and not just ones aimed at children, might suggest it's not as rare as some think.

Well I can not find a birthday card in a 120 km radius of Phetchabun so it's obviously not on the agenda of most Thais in my area.

Thank you cards and happy new year yes,birthday no.

[balo]

I think only farang families here celebrate birthdays and some hi-so families. It's just not a tradition in buddhist families.

[oxo1947]

I asked my wife what she wanted for her birthday. She said, "Nothing would make me happier than Gold earrings."

So I got her nothing...........................................

[sipi]

Happy birthday CC..

[thehelmsman]

I think it's a common knowledge Thais don't really celebrate it.

My "hiso" gf surely did for convenience.

My current one doesn't, but she will remember it and always asks me what I want.

Thais don't celebrate birthdays...really? You don't so all Thais don't.

So, at our house birthdays are always celebrated, adults and kids alike. We buy the gelatin style cakes for the kids, easy for them to eat. balloons, music, some easy foods like buffalo wings, yam, couple boxes of Leo, 3 to 4 bottles of booze. The kids run wild, the ladies on the soi come over to help cook the food, sing Happy Birthday. Presents not necessary.

Who cares what farang house does and how he keeps the village entertained.

You sound like a fella stuck in a 26M. condo, sorry about that. Me, I enjoy life and having a good time.

[silent]

Don't you know that she's thinking of you and forgetting a few keeps you younger.

[realenglish1]

My girlfriend of 8 years reminds me all the time that her Birthday is coming . She always buys her mom and dad something for their birthday So I assume to some important to others No

[godden]

If you pay yes.

[JHolmesJr]

LOL…I can never stop laughing at this…the fun starts at 0.55 sec.

Edited October 14, 2015 by JHolmesJr

[Dmaxdan]

My Thai In laws pretty much all have birthday parties, with karaoke, birthday cakes and plenty of booze. My contribution to these is normally a bottle of Hong Tong, their favourite tipple. If it is a child's birthday then we buy a gift or give money, but there is normally still plenty to drink. My wife's birthday and mine are only two days apart so we always get away with having one party.

[steven100]

I just get a ' happy birthday ' and that's it .....

after 40, don't think it matters anymore anyway.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I think it's a common knowledge Thais don't really celebrate it.

My "hiso" gf surely did for convenience.

My current one doesn't, but she will remember it and always asks me what I want.

Thais don't celebrate birthdays...really? You don't so all Thais don't.

So, at our house birthdays are always celebrated, adults and kids alike. We buy the gelatin style cakes for the kids, easy for them to eat. balloons, music, some easy foods like buffalo wings, yam, couple boxes of Leo, 3 to 4 bottles of booze. The kids run wild, the ladies on the soi come over to help cook the food, sing Happy Birthday. Presents not necessary.

Who cares what farang house does and how he keeps the village entertained.

You sound like a fella stuck in a 26M. condo, sorry about that. Me, I enjoy life and having a good time.

What does this spiteful and obviously judgmental comment have to do with the topic at hand?

But since you brought the topic up.....

I don't live in a condo, I live in my gf's townhouse and I am paying 0 baht for rent and utilities.

And I don't live in the village, I live in the city.

Sorry I ruined your day, but my GF does not care about birthdays..... just like most normal Thais.

Get over it.

[TheCruncher]

LOL…I can never stop laughing at this…the fun starts at 0.55 sec.

Jeez yeah, that was a laugh, hardky can type these words rolling over the floor.

[Liquorice]

Birthdays just remind me I'm another year older.

I stopped bothering when the candles cost more than the cake!

My Thai g/f and her family acknowledge birthdays but don't celebrate them.

They don't celebrate Xmas either, so when I didn't get a present last year, it came as a shock at 62 to find out Santa Claus doesn't exist either!

[mankondang]

Traditionally Thais don't celebrate birthdays, but I have over years that the farang influence on their modern lifestyles, wheather it be through having a farang friend in the family, or some for party reasos in bar, hotel or other 'entertainment venue' they do so, eg sing Happy Birthday to You, etc. I have also noticed that in large city shopping centres that Birthday Cakes have become common and even Birthday cards. These are not that common in rural areas. I'm sure that many fellow farangs would aware of the Thai tradition of NOT opening a presant one is given whilst in company. Basically, the Western influences are creeping into Thai cultures.

[ronthai]

Who's paying? Need to know that before an answer can be givien.

[JHolmesJr]

LOL…I can never stop laughing at this…the fun starts at 0.55 sec.

Jeez yeah, that was a laugh, hardky can type these words rolling over the floor.

Careful mate…don't hurt yourself.

[sead]

Long time since i had fun laughing at some of the ironic/ sarcastic answers......

[fred Kubasa]

Apparently Thai women have 5 or 6 birthdays every year !

[Saan]

My lot always did if I bought the cake and present, which I liked doing.

I had my wife on the ropes, her birthday was 3 days after mine. No present for me, bad luck her.

It was only the gesture I was after.

Traditionally Thais don't celebrate birthdays but they are happy to celebrate anything - Christmas, Thanks Giving, The Somali New Year, anything.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Saan

[thehelmsman]

I don't live in a condo, I live in my gf's townhouse and I am paying 0 baht for rent and utilities.

And I don't live in the village, I live in the city.

Sorry I ruined your day, but my GF does not care about birthdays..... just like most normal Thais.

Get over it.

You fired the first shot talking about my village life, where neighbors get together often just because. How did how much you pay for utilities have anything to do with birthday parties.

Edited October 14, 2015 by thehelmsman