Thai Family Life

In Thailand there is a much stronger company in the family compared to our western culture. Usually several generations live in the same house. The parents would give the house to their children; they together with their spouse in return accommodate their parents when they are older. As a tradition a Thai man has to meet the whole family of the bride and get the permission before he can get engaged (attracted). Only then he can propose (put forward) to her parents for the hand of their daughter. Both families agree the date for the wedding, but the date for the wedding is delayed until the groom has finished his apprenticeship (learning a trade from a skilled employer). The bride’s parents get bride-money from the groom, a kind of compensation (giving) for the upbringing consisting of natural produce or money. Many a time this is returned to the bridal couple on the wedding day. In the countryside the newly married often stay with their parents until they have the first child.

Women in Thailand are usually just housewives and obeyed her husband., but the man is the head of the family. Some men have multiple wives. An example of how superior (higher rank) men were is when a boy baby was born they would lay a pencil and slate next to it and when a girl baby was born they would lay a needle and thread next to it. Which means the role for the boy was to become a man of knowledge and the girl to be a good housewife. Young boys are sent to the temple to learn, whilst the girls stay home and learn to become a good housewife. You have too marry the spouse your parents choose you marry.

Children are regarded as the most secure in the world. They help each other and protect each other all times. Pi means brother or sister. Mae means mother Buddhist temples are Wat. Moo is village. Mooban means village where home is.