Chinese New Year in Phuket: how to celebrate

Chinese New Year in Thailand is, of course, celebrated differently than in China, where it is considered the main holiday of the year. Rather, I do not know how they celebrate in China, and all the traditional rituals, but I suppose that is a little different. For example, these days are not a day off in Thailand, unlike the European New Year or Thai Songkran. And the Thais themselves practically do not celebrate it. But for Thais of Chinese origin, the weekend can last up to 10 days.

On Phuket Island, as in some other provinces, only Chinese communities widely celebrate Chinese New Year at home. You can watch a home holiday in Phuket Town, sometimes there are ceremonies in temples. On the island of Phuket, about a third of the population is Thai of Chinese origin. That is why, for example, the Vegetarian Festival is so widely celebrated here. The Chinese came to Phuket in the 19th century to work in the tin mines. They were immigrants from the south of China, from the Fujian province, speaking in the South Minn dialect, they are called "hokkien" here.

They begin to prepare for the holiday in advance. After all, you need to buy gifts for relatives, clean the house, update your wardrobe and stock up on food for a treat. Thai people of Chinese descent, who have their own shops or restaurants, wake up at 3-4 am on the eve of the holiday and prepare various types of food for sale. The traditional food for the Chinese New Year among Thais is khanom. You can't even describe in one word what it is.

Small khanom rieu cakes are meant for monks or Buddha, Chinese gods and spirits. This is the main sweet that Thais buy. In second place are the brown khanom khengs intended for ancestors. And also buy khan huad koi, khan ku, khan chan, fruits and drinks.

Chinese New Year is a great reason to come to Thailand. Despite the increase in prices, it will be possible to relax here very well.