A Thai Housewarming – Family, Friends & Food

Thai monks eating together at a house blessing (Click to enlarge)

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.

Thai monks blessing a new house (Click to enlarge)

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 a 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 envelop which contains a donation to help support the temple.

Gifts for monks in front of a Buddha image entwined with holy thread (Click to enlarge)

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. Once blessing is complete the monks leave and the guests will have lunch together.

A Thai monk ties white thread around the wrist as blessing (Click to enlarge)

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. Serving curry with vermicelli is also common for other ceremonies such as a wedding.

Thai curry and vermicelli longevity noodles (Click to enlarge)

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.

All children like kanom! (Click to enlarge)

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 with friends.

Photographs © Owen Elias 2010