Lanna Crafts X

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

Lanna Cultures & Traditions, the next one is Housewarming or House-blessing Ceremony which the purpose is to bless the new house, almost same as other Thai people in the other parts of Thailand.

Picture of House-blessing Ceremony

- Culture & Tradition about Housewarming or House-blessing Ceremony, in the past, the Lanna house owner has to do many hard works for his/her house before its construction is finished, such as collecting locks and other materials for building, constructing with neighbors' helps, etc. So the owner shall be bound by and proud of the results that have been dedicated to. Then before moving in the new house, Lanna people will need to do the proper rituals: The ceremony of the new building or The religious housewarming.

First, they will search for the good day which might be suggested by a monk or knowledgeable person. Typically the famous good month for this ceremony is the twelfth month of Lanna, or other even months. The house owner needs to prepare a lot of food and food preparing equipment to set a party, and the host might hire a musical band for entertainment. The most significant thing to do is inviting a monk for making a merit and a knowledgeable person to perform the ceremony. The monk will escort the house owner or the host to enter the house for sprinkling holy water and preaching one sermon.

Many people will come to help organizing the ceremony on the day before the ceremony day. So the host will entertain the guests whom come to help by some activities till night. During this period, the young man and woman will have the opportunity to meet together. 

On the housewarming day, the ceremony will start in the early morning. The house owner will notify to the Four Celestial Guardians, and prepare a statue of the Buddha, valuable chests, or pots and jars for rice, one carried-load paddy rice, one carried-load plain rice, mattress, bedclothes, and wait for the auspiciousness near the stairs leading up to the new house. There might be some good-named persons involving in the parade, such as ‘Dee (means good or nice)’, ‘Kaew (indirect meaning is the greatest respective thing)’, etc. When the auspicious time comes, the person who escorts the Buddha statue will lead and be followed by others who carry the other things. Then the monk and the knowledgeable person will perform the ceremony respectively. After the monk’s meal, making merit to the monk and the monk’s praying, and then the ceremony is completed. Finally, it’s the party time for all.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

- 'Carnelian Cluster Earrings, 'Chiang Rai Feast' ', from NOVICA*, handmade carnelian, dyed blue resin, dyed quartz and glass beads, hook earrings, .925 Sterling Silver.

Carnelian Cluster Earrings,
'Chiang Rai Feast'

*NOVICA: who works in association with National Geographic, searches the world to work directly with the finest artisan designers.

(To be continued)

Lanna Crafts IX

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

Lanna Cultures & Traditions are related to Lanna Crafts which some crafts are from its traditions, for example, a kind of wooden utensil in northern Thailand (called in Thai as ‘Khantoke’) is a food ware set for Lanna dining culture & tradition. Today, we will continue on Lanna Cultures & Traditions from the latest post ‘Culture & Tradition about Birth’ as follows:

Pictures of wood Khantoke

Pictures of bamboo Khantoke

- Culture & Tradition about Dining, the main course of Lanna meal will include sticky rice or glutinous rice and one or two things to eat with which might be soup or chili paste or dressed salad, etc. In conventional, Lanna people will set the family group to sit around at the patio or terrace connected to the house for the dining. In the present day, some families set the dining room for this purpose.

However the basic or general utensils for Lanna dining are:

- Khantoke or Satoke (Thai words) is an essential set of food containing wares, a bit high from the ground for food to be higher from ground, made of wood with many sizes.

- A deep cup for soup

- Flat bowl or plate for grill, fried, roasted foods

- Spoon, in the past they used coconut shell or bamboo to make spoon, and had only one spoon for a Khantoke set.

- Rice box, in the past it was made of bamboo lining inside with bamboo sheath to prevent the moisture and keep the heat. In present, they use a cooler lining with thin cloth for longer heat preserving.

Every food will be put on the Khantoke set, the amount depends on the appropriate number of people.

For the good dining manner and pattern, there will be laid mat at the patio or terrace, the Khantoke set will be put on this mat with washing hand water and napkins. Everyone in the family will be called to sit around the Khantoke set, it’s very important that the parents or the most eldest of family will be the first one who starts the meal, then the youngers follow. There are many polite sitting manners for dining; the man will sit by cross-legged, the lady will sit with legs tucked back to one side. To eat the sticky rice, they will use hand to keep the appropriate amount of rice in the palm, shape into ball-liked to fit to the mouth.

Impolite dining manners or prohibitive manners are farting during the meal, spitting, speaking about disgusting things, teasing or playing to each other, quarrelling, laughing, gossiping, knocking the spoon on bowl, plate or Khantoke set, stirring the soup till it spills out, choosing by spoon only what own likes, eating or dipping only the middle of rice or food, trimming, licking or kissing rice or food at fingers or utensils.

There is no dessert or snack for traditional Lanna dining meal, but it might be some fruit or boiled corn or peanuts.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

Gold plated amethyst
flower earrings,
'Chiang Rai Bouquet'

- ‘Gold plated amethyst flower earrings, 'Chiang Rai Bouquet'', from NOVICA*, captures the essence of Thai feminine elegance with the design of these earrings. The florid half hoops are crafted by hand with 24k gold plated sterling silver. Crystalline amethyst dewdrops add a touch of sophistication with 2 carats. .925 Sterling silver.

*NOVICA: who works in association with National Geographic, searches the world to work directly with the finest artisan designers.

Chiang Mai and Northern
Thailand (Other Places
Travel Guide)

- ‘Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand (Other Places Travel Guide)’, by T. F. Rhoden, T. F. Rhoden has spent seven years exploring this fascinating country as an aid worker on the Thai-Burma border. Through his unique experiences, Rhoden provides insight into the country that has become his second home. With a comprehensive background section covering the history, culture, and logistics of travel, and sixteen sections dedicated to each stop on his recommended travel route, this book will allow travelers to feel like locals while enjoying the indisputable beauty that the North has to offer.

(To be continued)