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Thai Culture
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The wai is a beautiful custom - and symbolic to. The gesture of pressing the palms together represents the offering of a budding lotus, a symbol of Buddhist enlightenment, or simply the offering of respect and goodwill. Befitting, then, its usage in international beauty pageants. Indeed, the wai, with certain variations, is actually found in many cultures in Asia, from India to Japan.
In Thailand, there are also variations. However, it is not an ad hoc or personal decision, but rather, the choice of wai is determined by the circumstances of who is being greeted and by whom.
There are three main levels of the wai. The highest is used for monks or to pay respect to Buddha images. You should raise your pressed palms until your thumbs touch the space between the eyebrows and your fingertips touch the hairline.
The second level is for parents, teachers, senior relatives, the elderly, and others worthy of special respect. Raise your pressed palms until your thumbs touch the tip of the nose and the fingertips touch the space between the eyebrows.
The third level is for respected persons in general, which includes persons of the same status. Pressed palms touch the lower part of you face, thumbs touch the tip of your chin, and index fingers touch your nose. Bow your head a little but there is no need to bow. Note that with the two other levels of wai, the higher the person being respected, the lower you should bow.
When greeting close friends or persons of younger age or lower status, it is not necessary to wai. A simple "Sawasdee" will suffice. It is also polite to wai when saying thank you to persons of higher status. When someone of lower status wais you, you should rap wai or return their gesture as an expression of mutual respect. To do so, press your palms together at chest level, fingertips at the chin, and bow your head slightly.
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First of all, it is important to dress appropriately. For extended stays at temples it may be necessary to wear all white or a white shirt and long black skirt for women and black slacks for men. For the day visit, this is not necessary, but one must still dress modestly. No exposed shoulders, legs, or d?colletage. Save that for Siam Square. When entering a hall with a Buddha image, you should approach it and khrap or kowtow three times. People nowadays tend to perform a "Speed-khrap", but it is really better to take the time to do it gracefully. It is also customary to make a tripartite offering: flowers, incense and a candle. If there are monks present, you should then turn to them and khrap again three times. If it is not convenient to do so, or the monk is standing or walking past, you should just do the first level wai " fingertips at hairline" and bow deeply. All monks, regardless of seniority, deserve respect. When listening to the monks give a sermon, keep your palms pressed at chest level throughout. When the preaching ends, raise pressed palms until thumbs touch the space between the eyebrows and say "sathu". When conversing with the monk, always keep palms pressed at chest level. If you are a woman, avoid any physical contact with the monk. Never hand the monks something directly, but place it on the small yellow cloth he will proffer. Similarly, males should avoid physical contact with female monks and nuns.
It is certainly not acceptable to cut in line in Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter. Thai culture places the greatest value on being considerate, krengjai, so anything that inconveniences others is frowned upon. Yet Thai culture is also highly non-confrontational - sometimes overly so - so few would correct those who cut in line, only encouraging them to continue this rude practice.
In Thai culture, it is considered indelicate to open presents in front of the guest. One is simply supposed to express gratitude for all gifts, regardless of the size of expense of each. Rather than potentially embarrass guests who had not bought gifts as elaborate as others?, or offending the giver by unwittingly showing disappointment on one?s face, it is deemed more diplomatic to open gifts in privacy. If your friend is delighted by your gift, she can - and should - let you know in a personal thank you.
In Thai culture, it is considered customary to bring something for the host. In fact, not doing so is considered rude or at best thoughtless. It is a sign of namjai, or kindness, and gratitude for the host?s hospitality to contribute something towards the meal. Accordingly, the host should serve it for all the guests to enjoy rather than keep it for another occasion. Even if there is no meal and it is just a social visit, it is common practice to bring something in hand, a practice known as tid mai tid mue. Traditionally, one would bring home-made food or desserts. Now, in the age of convenience, it is acceptable to bring store-bought food, wine or a basket of assorted goodies. Accept these graciously and serve it for the enjoyment of all guests.
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