What an honour! Surajit, the owner of the Florist Resort here in Samui has had three new houses built, one each for his children and one for himself and his wife. The kids are so lucky, the houses are beautiful, big and each with a private pool in front. They form a mini compound on the dirt road that leads to the resort. Today they are finally completed and it was the housewarming, both a religious and social occasion here in Thailand. And they asked me to attend, I was the only non Thai face in about 80 guests and felt it was a real honour.
This is the official explanation of the ceremony:
Khuan Ban Mai (ขึ้นบ้านใหม่), the blessing of a new house, is regarded by Thai people as a very auspicious event. It celebrates the completion of a new home by bringing together friends and family and performing a Buddhist rite to encourage good fortune and prosperity for the new dwelling and its inhabitants.
Before the ceremony takes place, the host will ask for advice from monks or senior lay people to determine a suitable day for the ceremony. The auspicious day depends on the day of the week and the time of the year. For example, Saturday is considered to be an unlucky day for a blessing as Saturn is believed to be the planet of misfortune.
Monks play important role in the house warming ceremony. The host will usually invite an odd number of monks such as 5, 7 or 9 monks as odd numbers are regarded as lucky. Normally, the ceremony is held in the morning until noon and afterwards the monks gather together to bless the host and guests.
When the ceremony is finished, food will be offered to the monks by the host followed by gift offerings. The gift set usually contains a banana leaf cone holding flowers, candles, and joss sticks along with necessary everyday items (drinking water, soap, detergent, toothbrush, shampoo and comestibles such as biscuits or crackers). As well as these individual gifts for monks there is usually a sealed envelope which contains a donation to help support the temple.
As part of the ceremony, monks will sprinkle holy water on the host and guests and throughout the new house. Each member of new household will receive a string wrist-binding (white holy thread) from the monk as a blessing. The holy thread, known as Sai Seen, is also entwined around the main household Buddha image.
A wide selection of food is prepared for the event and the choice of dishes is an important consideration. Thai curries are a popular choice and are often served with Thai vermicelli. Vermicelli is a long mung bean noodle which is a traditional symbol of longevity and is served to promote the long life of the host, long like the noodle.
Dessert will also be served to everyone. Desserts with significant names and meanings are chosen such as Foi Thong (sweet golden threads), Thong Yip (sweet golden flower), Thong Yod (sweet golden dew-drop-like ball) or even Kanom Chun (layered sweet meat). In Thai, “Thong” means “golden” and desserts with this is in the name signify wealth and good life for one and all. Kanom Chun dessert implies receiving respect and promotion in your working life.
Khuan Ban Mai, the housewarming ceremony is a traditional part of Thai life that has been passed from generation to generation. It is a ceremony combining Buddhist beliefs with social values and Thai customs and is a wonderful opportunity for family members to gather and enjoy the moment together increasing warmth and closeness in the family and friends.
Surajit had the full on ceremony, a (very long) white thread wrapped around the whole compound, the full complement of nine chanting monks and a feast with so much food they must have been up all night preparing. I think it's obviously the "done thing", a bit like an afternoon tea at Button Street, to really over order on the food so people take home goodie bags.
This was certainly the case here as the older ladies came armed with huge baskets and tiffin carriers to take away mounds of surplus food. And plastic bags were distributed to all to take some of each of the curries and other dishes away. The feast had so many different dishes I couldn't count. I have never tried Thai desserts before but have discovered a taste for the banana leaf wrapped parcels of sticky rice topped with what tastes like a strip of egg custard! It was all set up under a marquee as the auspicious time was from 10 am in the morning so the sun was really hot. The chanting and prayers went on for just over half an hour and then after the monks had eaten a huge meal they made some marks in white on the entrance doors before leaving with their gifts. Not sure what that was apart from some sort of blessing.
All in all a fascinating morning and a real insight into Thai culture.
I wish them all well in their new homes.
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