Sino-Thai trade and cultural ties span the centuries. In times past, sea-farers, marine merchants and traders sailed up the kingdom’s rivers with vessels laden with merchandise and precious goods including Chinese tea, silk and fine porcelain. As trade between the two countries flourished, permanent settlements of peoples of various ethnic Chinese origin were soon established. While the early settlers quickly adapted to their new way of life and adopted Thai ways, they also continued to maintain strong cultural ties and practiced the customs and traditions diligently observed by their forefathers. Of these, the celebration of the Chinese New Year remains the most important of annual festivals on the Chinese lunar calendar observed in the various regions of Thailand.
Festive celebrations are typically staged in areas where there is a significant Thai-Chinese community such as the Yaowarat district in Bangkok and in the provinces of Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri in Central Thailand; in Chon Buri/Pattaya on the Eastern Seaboard; Phuket and Songkhla (Hat Yai district) in the South, Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, Nakhon Sawan and Chiang Mai in the North.
With the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) receiving the full support of the public and private sector and the active involvement of the Chinese Embassy, airlines, and other related organizations, the Chinese New Year festivities being held in Bangkok’s Chinatown and the following key provinces, namely, Phuket, Nakhon Sawan, Songkhla (Hat Yai district), Chon Buri (Pattaya district), Chiang Mai, and Nakhon Ratchasima are being hosted on a grand scale.
While a variety of contemporary elements have been incorporated through the passage of time, Chinese New Year celebrations throughout Thailand are a reminder of the rich cultural and artistic legacy and wealth of history preserved in these ‘living museums’.
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2010 CELEBRATIONS AROUND THAILAND
CENTRAL THAILAND
BANGKOK CHINA TOWN CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2010
Yaowarat district of Bangkok
14 February 2010
AYUTTHAYA CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2010
District of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya province
February 2010
RATCHABURI CHINA TOWN CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2010
14 February 2010
Along the main city streets in the Ratchaburi provincial centre
SUPHAN BURI CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2010
At the Suphan Buri City Pillar Shrine in Suphan Buri
February 2010
EASTERN SEABOARD
PATTAYA CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2010
14 February 2010
SOUTHERN THAILAND
PHUKET CHINESE NEW YEAR – 11TH OLD PHUKET FESTIVAL
January 2010
At Queen’s Park, Along Thalang Road, Krabi Road, and Soi Rommani
SONGKHLA: HAT YAI CHINESE NEW YEAR 2010
At the Hat Yai Municipality Public Park and Sanehanusorn Road, Hat Yai city centre
14 February 2010
NORTHERN THAILAND
NAKHON SAWAN PAK NAM PHO CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL &
CHINESE NEW YEAR COUNTDOWN 2010
On the bank of the Chao Phraya River, Pak Nam Pho
February 7 – 18, 2010
CHIANG MAI CHINESE NEW YEAR 2010
Along Kuang Meru Road., China Town in Chiang Mai
14 February 2010
NORTHEASTERN THAILAND
NAKHON RATCHASIMA CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2010
Thao Suranari Monument, Nakhon Ratchasima provincial centre (Amphoe Mueang)
14 February 2010
source: http://www.tatnews.org/events/events/2010/feb/4631.asp
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