Guest fountainhall Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 Thanks to Mark of the Krazy Dragon Bar in Pattaya for posting this Guide to Bar closures on Buddhist and other holidays on GB's forum. I am sure neither will object to my reposting it here - http://www.boomboomme.com/resources/holidays/thailand/ Mark says it is the most accurate he has come across. But, best to double check as this is Thailand . . . ! http://gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4375&start=20 Quote
kokopelli Posted March 6, 2012 Posted March 6, 2012 I spoke with a couple of Thais and they have no clue concerning this holiday. None at all but they did know of Saint Valentines Day. Good for them. Quote
Bob Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 I spoke with a couple of Thais and they have no clue concerning this holiday. None at all but they did know of Saint Valentines Day. Good for them. Those Thais must be living on a deserted island or something of the sort. Macha Bucha Day is a public holiday besides being one of the most important religious (buddhist) holidays of the year. I would think that anybody in Thailand that calls themselves a buddhist certainly is aware of the holiday. But, on the other hand, I suppose it's possible that there is a small minority of Americans who are not aware of Easter or Christmas. Quote
pong Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 bob is right, sure indeed! BUT: these holy days are based on the lunar calender-look in the sky tonight and see it is really full moon. 2. there is NO guide if bars have to close or not-plus that this seems mostly local custom. The ONLY thing is that sell of alcohol is banned-from 0.00 till 24.00-and thus a lot of bars consider it only brings them a loss if they open-customers will not come. Read that eternal parrotting in thaivisa-as if the only reason of their existence here in LOS is threatened by a dry day-even parrotting that the whole tourism branch will collaps under it. Of course this is also TH-so any chance to nonabide, open closed doors only for those in the know, or to hide in teacups-for known customers only and all that will also apply. There is NO ban on the fleshtrade at all. Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 I suppose it's possible that there is a small minority of Americans who are not aware of Easter or Christmas. I once talked to an Australian guest house owner in Sunee who was not aware of Thanksgiving Day. I think he was actually mocking his ignorance in a smug opinion of his US patrons. Regardless, anyone in the hotel business who is not aware of holiday periods in other major countries shouldn't be in the hotel business. And he wasn't. He sold his business shortly thereafter and I never heard of him again. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 anyone in the hotel business who is not aware of holiday periods in other major countries shouldn't be in the hotel business. So I should tell my hotel manager friend he'd better know that May 4 is Greenery Day in Japan, and May 9 is the Great Patriotic War Against Facism Victory Day in Kazakhstan - both major public holidays Since he's been based in Asia for a long time, I'm sure he knows that the 15th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar is a public holiday in most Chinese speaking countries. It marks the Hungry Ghost Festival Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 You obviously did not know that today is Do-Not-Pick-On-Thaiworthy Day, which I feel is just as abstract as all those other days you mentioned, whether public or not. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the most traveled day of the year in the US, which was actually my only point. it's just too easy this day and age to be reminded of worldwide dates with all the online software. There is just no excuse anymore. I hope that Hungry Ghost finally gets his fill on one of those festive lunar occasions. You should do a report from there some day. It sounds like fun! Quote
kokopelli Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 Those Thais must be living on a deserted island or something of the sort. Macha Bucha Day is a public holiday besides being one of the most important religious (buddhist) holidays of the year. I would think that anybody in Thailand that calls themselves a buddhist certainly is aware of the holiday. But, on the other hand, I suppose it's possible that there is a small minority of Americans who are not aware of Easter or Christmas. Bob, I would think the same as you, but that is not the case. I even asked one Thai friend who is very religious and who intends to spend many hours in the Wat tonight what is the name of this day. His answer was "I don't know". I asked what is the meaning of this day and again he did not know. Really odd to me. As for Americans and Christians most of them don't know that Christmas is the birthday of Santa Claus and Easter celebrates the miracle of a rabbit who lays multi-color eggs. So I suppose we can't blame the Thais too much. Quote
Bob Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 Easter celebrates the miracle of a rabbit who lays multi-color eggs. No kidding?!? I thought it was in memory when the big guy, JC, came out of his cave and, if he saw his shadow, we had 6 more weeks of Seinfeld re-runs. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 You obviously did not know that today is Do-Not-Pick-On-Thaiworthy Day . . . I hope that Hungry Ghost finally gets his fill on one of those festive lunar occasions. You should do a report from there some day. It sounds like fun! Just a bit of fun! Actually, the Festival of Hungry Ghosts can also be quite fun. I have seen it described on one SIngapore blog as a sort of adult version of Halloween! During this month, it is said that the ghosts of some ancestors with restless spirits roam the earth. So efforts have to be made to appease them. This takes several forms, including the burning of fake money, often at the side of a road, burning incense and joss sticks, offering special food and performing special Chinese operas. As for the Great Patriotic War Against Facism Victory Day, I admit to no experience, and so will have to defer to others' greater knowledge! Quote
kokopelli Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 B No kidding?!? I thought it was in memory when the big guy, JC, came out of his cave and, if he saw his shadow, we had 6 more weeks of Seinfeld re-runs. Really Bob, you should know that celestial beings do not cast shadows! Secondly I did research on Makha Bucha Day and found the meaning a bit obscure or vague so can now understand why my Thai friends could not define it. Perhaps like some Christian and Jewish holy days where many followers just go through the motions? Quote
