In Chinese cemetaries, white graves are aligned. Chinese cemetaries are often located on mountains.
Chinese cemetary

งานบำเพ็ญกุศลฝังศพ
or "NGAAN BAMPHEN KUSON FANG SOP" is a Chinese ceremony in order to make
merit for the deceased person.

During Chinese rites, funeral happen.
Cremation happens during Buddhist rites. The Chinese ceremony is called
"NGAN BAMPHEN KUSON FANG SOP".
A picture with all persons that did assist to the ceremony
is shot. People are often dressed in white robes during Chinese rites.
Such big picture, i.e. width one meter, can be seen in Thai houses.

Chinese opera

Chinese opera or theatre is called
"GNIOU" (งิ้ว) in Thai language.
Actors use Chinese language during "GNIOU" performances.
So when Thai people go to see Chinese opera, most of them don't
understand a single word but can enjoy the beautiful clothes,
the actors' lyric voice.

Not so long ago, these theatres
performances have popular success. It was an
opportunity to go out, to have some fun. But now these performances
are seldom. Younger generations prefer Thai or American movies.
But "GNIOU" performances are not dying. Now
most actors are Thai actors coming from "ISAN"
(อีสาน - northeastern part of Thailand).
"GNIOU" performances are made to offer a gift to
Chinese gods. So now performances are often made in front of a non
living audience.

During Thai feasts, there is sometimes a mix
of "GNIOU", "LIKAY" (ลิเก
- Thai traditional song and dance drama) performances, stalls with food, offering
to Chinese gods and to Buddhist statues. Everybody go there, come back,
discuss. Don't expect silence. Anyway nobody is understanding.

Chinese New Year's Day

On the day before the
Chinese New Year's Day, Thai-Chinese people start to
make offerings to gods, their ancestors, the God of Land and the God of
Luck. Offerings include steamed duck, poached fish, chicken, pork heads, fresh or
canned fruit, Chinese cakes (often with durian) and vegetarian food.
"DOOK MAI CHIN" (ดอกไม้จีน -
Chinese flower) and golden paper are also offered.

On the Chinese New Year's day, family
members visit each other and give each other money red envelopes
called "ANG PAO". These envelopes contain money. On this day,
Chinese restaurants are very busy because all families are going
out.

For Chinese New Year's Day
there are parades with impressive dragons. When the dragon passes by
stores, the owner often lits crackers to ask for luck in business.
People set off firecrackers to scare off "evil spirits".
These crackers are 2 meters long and it takes more than one
minute for the complete explosion. Protect ears !

Chinese temple

เทศกาลไหว้พระจันทร์
is the Chinese ceremony "TO PRAY THE MOON"

During the month of september, it's the
season for moon cakes. These are pies with durian, lotus seed,
chestnut or other fillings. It is called a cake but it is not a cake
from a western point of view (no cream, no chocolate).

This ceremony is coming from Chinese
history. When China was under the rule of Mongols, an insurrection was
prepared. Small papers giving orders were hidden in cakes.

In Bangkok, there is also a
Chinatown area
("YAOWARAT" - เยาวราช).
The government hopes to turn "YAOWARAT", the home of the
biggest overseas Chinese community in the world into an internationally
famous landmark.
The goal is to promote Thai-Chinese culture and boost tourism.
"YAOWARAT" is easily recognisable because
all the shops signs are written in Chinese. In this area, there are streets
where all shops do the same job : the streets about car motors and so
on... Of course many Chinese products can be found. There are also
four Thai newspapers in Chinese language.
The year 2002 marks Thai Chinatown's
110^th anniversary. Most of Thailand’s top companies
- including Charoen Pokphand Group - opened their first offices in the area.

	All jewellery shops are owned by Thai-Chinese people. The shop is always red, covered with Chinese ideograms and inside many gold amulets, rings, laces can be found. When a customer buy an item, the seller gives a little red sack. Often in provincial towns, jewellery shops indicate that their gold is coming from "YAOWARAT". Chinese New Year is traditionally a time when gold sells well.
Red sack

Chinese temple

Vegetarian festival

The Vegetarian Festival occurs every year
on first day of the ninth month of the Chinese calendar ( so end of September
or beginning of October ). It is best known on the island of Phuket,
but it's also a well-publicized and celebrated event in the
larger, southern cities of Thailand.

	This festival includes the gathering of "spirits doctors" ("MO PHI" - หมอผี), who number up to 400 in Phuket alone. The "Spirits Doctors" show the power of the spirit, which reside inside their bodies, by piercing their bodies with sharp instruments. It is customary, for example, to see them walking through village and city streets with slender rods of wood, or steel, through both cheeks.
Spirit doctors

Another familiar sight is to see them walking barefoot on
burning coals or climbing ladders with rungs of sharpened blades.
Amazingly, they demonstrate no sign of pain and evidence but a minimum of
bleeding when their bodies are pierced. The "power of the gods" is believed to be the
force that enables the "Spirits Doctors" to endure these feats without feeling pain.
During the festival, they walk from one Chinese Temple to another.
Faithful join them and in each temple they make donation, worship Chinese gods.

One can see entering a Chinese Temple, in Phuket, cupboards containing knives and swords that are used solely for the Vegetarian Festival. In addition, little Chinese Gods are also seen --- and these are truly frightening. During the festival, the gods are supposed to leave the statues and enter the bodies of the "Spirits Doctors," who are in a trance.
	Spirit doctors

After the gods enter their bodies,
the "Spirits Doctors" then begin their walking
journey throughout the villages and cities. Huge crowds welcome them with shouts,
applause and fireworks. The faithful give money, which is supposed to go for the upkeep
and embellishment of the temples. Unfortunately, some of these monies either fail to
reach the authorized persons, or be used for their intended purposes.

Chinese gods

Some people say that the Chinese gods are angry
because money is not used to embellish
temples but used to build hotels, bars, discotheques, and massage lounges.