THINKBOX
Why shark fin soup is sinful
- Published: 20 Jan 2012 at 00.00
- Newspaper section: Life
Little by little, Chinese New Year, an event once celebrated here solely by people of Chinese ancestry, has become part of mainstream culture. Many Thais now don red shirts (and not for political reasons) at this time of year and perform rituals such as giving one's house a thorough spring-cleaning before Chinese New Year's Eve and not doing any household chores during the festival period.
While many also hold the traditional wai jao ceremony to pay respect to Chinese deities and ask for good fortune in the year ahead, parents may refuse to adopt all the customs associated with the lunar new year, in particular the practice of family elders giving ang pao (gifts of cash) to younger relatives.
When we borrow traditions from other cultures, I guess we Thais simply do only what is convenient and fun.
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