Thai customs and traditions

1.Religion
Thailand is nearly 94%-95% Theravada Buddhist, with minorities of
Muslims (5-6%), Christians (1%), Mahayana Buddhists, and other religions.
Thai Theravada Buddhism is supported and overseen by the government,
with monks receiving a number of government benefits, such as free use
of the public transportation infrastructure.
Based on Buddhist beliefs, the head is the most valued part of the body
while the feet are the lowest, symbolizing attachment to the ground, a
cause of human suffering. Touching someones head is highly offensive, as
is raising your feet or pointing them at people or religious objects. You
should also remove your shoes before entering homes and religious
structures.
Places like temples and palaces are highly respected by the locals for
their religious values and there are certain customs and etiquette you
need to respect when visiting these places such as; you are required to
wear polite dress when visiting official buildings and palaces. This means
no shorts, no skirt above the knee for ladies, no sleeveless t-shirts.
It is not unusual to encounter signs prohibiting women from entering
highly sacred places, such as temple libraries. Women who wish to worship
do so outside the buildings. Also, while it is taboo for a woman to touch a
monk or pass things to him directly, polite conversation is fine.

2.The Royal Family

The Royal Family of Thailand is held in very high respect. Always stand
when the Kings anthem is played before movies, concerts and sporting
events. His image is everywhere, from posters plastered on the exterior of
buildings to photos displayed on taxi dashboards. Travelers should also
refrain from making disparaging remarks about the royals because it is
against the law. The penalty is 3 15 years imprisonment, depending on
the severity.

3.Versatile Greeting
The wai, or pressing your palms together at chest or nose level and
bowing your head slightly, is a gesture that you will encounter almost
immediately upon arrival in Thailand. An integral part of Thai etiquette, it
denotes respect (or reverence when performed in front of a Buddha
image), and can be used to express a hello, thank you, or goodbye.

4.Colorful days

Based on pre-Buddhist Hindu legends, a particular color is associated

with each day of the week. This is most noticeable on Mondays, when
many people wear yellow shirts, acknowledging and honouring the day on
which the King was born. Other popular colors include pink (Tuesday) and
light blue (Friday, the Queens day of birth).