Lanna Crafts XVIII

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

One significant tradition of Lanna people which is related to their Buddhism religion is about the ordination to be a novice or a monk, called ‘Poy Noi’.

Picture of Lanna Buddhist Ordination

- Tradition about Lanna Ordination (Poy Noi), the Lanna Buddhist ordinations could be classified for kids and adults as novices and monks. Typically, a novice’s age is around 7-20 years old.

- Poy Buach is an ordination ceremony for kids (or a kid) to be novices (or a novice).
- Poy Pek is an ordination ceremony for adults (or an adult) to be monks (or a monk).
- Poy Look Kaew is an ordination ceremony which is included a pre-ordination ceremony called Nak (from Naga) Parade.

- Poy Sang Long is a Tai people ordination ceremony as described in Hill Tribal Crafts IX.
- Poy Noi is an ordination ceremony which is established internally among relatives, not a public ceremony.
- Poy Luang is a big public festival of Lanna concerning to the religious celebrations on temples, monk habitats, etc.

The main purpose (from the past) of Lanna Buddhist Ordination or Poy Noi was about kids’ educations. The kids would have opportunities to study and learn on how to read and write from monks. Also they would learn on moral and ethics and vocational practices. One important aim was to be Buddhist heirs. More purposes were the parents would also obtain the merit from the virtue of ordination of their sons. Believe that the ordination would be able to lead to Nirvana. After a period of ordination and leaving the monkhood, believe that he would be a good knowledgeable man who would be a good husband because of full of benevolence in mind. Then everyone would like to accept him as a son-in-law.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

- ‘EXP Decorative Handmade Lavender and Gold Floral Thai Silk Cushion Cover/Pillow Sham’ from EXP:

EXP Decorative Handmade Lavender
and Gold Floral Thai Silk
Cushion Cover/Pillow Sham

• Add a sultry accent to your living room or bedroom decor with this sensuous Thai silk cushion cover
• Luxurious lavender floral and gold silk cushion cover handmade from genuine Thai silk
• Features an intricate floral array in autumnal hues of gold and black
• Full-length hidden zipper allows for easy insertion or removal of a cushion
• Vivid decorative accessory will add a floral flirtatiousness to any room
• 16 in. l x 16 in. w

(To be continued)

Lanna Crafts XVII

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

After the end of the human life, there might be someone to prepare a ceremony for him/her. One significant tradition of Lanna is Tradition about Death and Corpse.

Picture of Lanna Temples

- Tradition about Death and Corpse, when there is death in a Lanna house, there will be sounds of cry and lamentation from his/her relatives. This culture is same as traditional Chinese people’s culture. These sounds of sadness are called ‘Hui’ which will be as announcement to neighbors to know that there is death occurred in the house. They will come to assist on the death ceremony.

The relatives will usually set the death ceremony at home by inviting monks to pray there every night. When the scheduled date comes, they will decorate the corpse with flowers and move by carry (bear) to graveyard. For the rich or royalties or high-level monks, their corpse will be move to the graveyard by wheel-vehicle.

In the previous days, the corpse would be buried, no cremation. The cremation should be performed only for monks, kings or the royalties. They believed that they had to bury the corpse to preserve the perfect body for the next life. If the dead body lost eye or hand, then in the next life, he/she would be blind or crippled. For the one who died while pregnant, the dead baby must be taken out before bury, if not, in the next life the woman would be self-pregnant without a husband.

Believe that the dead people would come back in 3 or 7 days due to their worries. So the relatives would wear black dresses or suits to make merit to the dead one. After 7 days past, there would be a spiritual invitation rite by a medium (invoker). The relatives would ask through the medium to the dead one what he/she preferred to have or eat. They would believe if the medium chose the right ones.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

- ‘Thai Style Original Barbie Size Thai Outfit - Modern, Lanna or Chakri’, from Thai:

Thai Style Original Barbie Size
Thai Outfit -
Modern, Lanna or Chakri

• Made and purchased in Thailand these outfits for Barbie are made of Thai silk and include a brochure explaining the nature of the costume.
• This modern style outfit has a solid sleeveless grayish-brown top with tiny bright green embroidery around the neck.
• At the top of the bodice is a gold design imprinted on the material.
• The skirt is full length and straight, of a navy and deep gold geometric print with horizontal stripes.
• There is a gold belt with a silver and gold with crystal center floral-like ornament at the center and a lace decoration around the hip area. 
• From the waist to the floor is a broad gold trim interwoven with bright blue, green and fuchsia thread.
• Around the shoulders, the outfit includes a very wide gold shawl also interwoven with glittering blue, green and fuchsia threads.
• The outfit comes with two gold arm bracelets.

(To be continued)