webfact Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Thailand to nominate Songkran Festival for UNESCO's cultural heritage Source: Xinhua|Editor: xuxin File photo/Xinhua BANGKOK, (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Ministry of Culture on Monday announced that its committee responsible in promoting and conserving cultural heritage has resolved to nominate Songkran Festival to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The committee would submit the proposal to the cabinet for approval within next February and send it to UNESCO within the following month, said Thai Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome on Monday. It should enter the listing process of UNESCO in 2022 at the soonest, the minister said.Itthiphol said that Tom Yum Kung or Thailand's spicy prawn soup would be nominated next. Full story : http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/23/c_138652942.htm -- XINHUA NET 2019-12-24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveAustin Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Hardly think the mega water fights of today would merit inclusion, though the origins behind Songkran are nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beggar Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 This yearly water chaos is the worst form to celebrate a New Year that I have ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatOngo Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 They should also apply to the Guinness Book of Records for the most road deaths in the shortest time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somtamnication Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Most countries have a similar holiday. More like Loi Krathong should be nominated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyhangmon Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 ... unfortunately to be suspended this year as far as waste of water is concerned ... nah, just kidding ... although, in other news: The Thai Meteorological Department is forecasting that the drought will be the worst in 40 years and last until May 2020. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beggar Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 2 hours ago, Somtamnication said: Most countries have a similar holiday. More like Loi Krathong should be nominated. I think this too but not everyone seems to be convinced: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffggi Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 5 hours ago, daveAustin said: Hardly think the mega water fights of today would merit inclusion, though the origins behind Songkran are nice. Perfectly correct, the true Thai Songkran which they used to be when I first came to Thailand was absolutely the nicest festival you could possible want to join in, it is far away from the water fights that it has become, if they could turn the clock back to how it used to be I would agree with trying to get this festival registered but in it's current form NO WAY....!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
law ling Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Hate Sonkran - nothing more than state-sanctioned bastardry to me. What is their culture? Don't know. But you'll find no Thais creating spine-chilling art like a Milton, Rembrant or Donizetti. The true flavor of Thais, and perhaps why many expats stay here, is a certain non-pretentious, fun-loving, laid-back attitude, and if the Thais think Sonkran embodies that, then good luck to them at UNESCO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30la Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 8 hours ago, webfact said: Thailand to nominate Songkran Festival for UNESCO's cultural heritage I think it's not fair, cry for the drought and allow a holiday where in seven days so much water is thrown away as during the rest of the year! Then, it is no longer a festival but a war where many dead people mourn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak2002003 Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 What this festival has mutated into today is nothing like what it was years back. The more traditional Songkhran is beautiful, polite, fun and relaxing, full on cultural and religions meaning and symbolism, and to do with family and friends coming together. Today it's become totally materialistic, loud music, people dressing up like hookers and getting so drunk they are vomiting and rolling about on the dirty floor, fighting, mass deaths due to drunk driving, disgusting waste of water in the DRY season when there are often severe droughts. All for some shallow brainless people to get a few selfies for facebook. Thankfully there are still more traditional parties and activities going on if you know where to look. Living out in the countryside it's still more like it used to be and I still enjoy the festival in such places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Nick Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 ...and heeeeeere we go again! "Today's Songkhran is bad!" "The good old traditional way is sooooo beautiful!" "It's just a waste of water!" So lame and predictable! a) Seriously? 361 days, no one gives two hot ones about water management, but 4 days of Songkhran do all the damage? b) Yeah...bowing down to Buddha and bowing in front of your elders, washing their feet... what an absolutely lovely tradition! c) If you want to complain about Songkhran, complain about the passiveness of law- enforcement, when it comes to drunk driving and sexual assault! But all you miserable folk can do, is complain about people, having fun for 3 or 4 days! d) Can it be, that you are very selective, when it comes to crying over traditions, not observed? The ones you like: super good! The ones you don't like: >deleted< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Nick Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 57 minutes ago, jak2002003 said: What this festival has mutated into today is nothing like what it was years back. The more traditional Songkhran is beautiful, polite, fun and relaxing, full on cultural and religions meaning and symbolism, and to do with family and friends coming together. Today it's become totally materialistic, loud music, people dressing up like hookers and getting so drunk they are vomiting and rolling about on the dirty floor, fighting, mass deaths due to drunk driving, disgusting waste of water in the DRY season when there are often severe droughts. All for some shallow brainless people to get a few selfies for facebook. Thankfully there are still more traditional parties and activities going on if you know where to look. Living out in the countryside it's still more like it used to be and I still enjoy the festival in such places. Yes...it is, what a massive number of people want! Same as Christmas! Same as every other "traditional" holiday! Thankfully for you, the current government is looking out for you, with their (historically not at all accurate) costume- festivals and turning back the clock to the "good old days" of Siam and obedience to authority!! Oh, the lovely tradition! ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak2002003 Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 5 hours ago, Saint Nick said: Yes...it is, what a massive number of people want! Same as Christmas! Same as every other "traditional" holiday! Thankfully for you, the current government is looking out for you, with their (historically not at all accurate) costume- festivals and turning back the clock to the "good old days" of Siam and obedience to authority!! Oh, the lovely tradition! ???? Yes, and look what has happened to Christmas. Again, materialism has taken over. Even Christmas is a 'fake' festival... it took over from our mid winter festival which had nothing to do with Christian religion. If you want to know what Songkhran was like.. just go and look at some old photos, or do some reading. If 'everyone' wants to celebrate Songkhran they way it happens in the city, with lost of loud music, booze and fights / road accidents and the rest... that is great for them. I have no problem with it. I simply stay away from that side of the celebrations and go to a more old fashioned party / event. I just don't see how Thailand government can nominate this new kind of Songkhran to UNESCO as 'cultural heritage'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vacuum Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 6 hours ago, jak2002003 said: The more traditional Songkhran is beautiful, polite, fun and relaxing, full on cultural and religions meaning and symbolism, and to do with family and friends coming together. You're right. But the 'traditional Songkran' that you mentioned, won't get the tourists that TAT want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yadon Toploy Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 17 hours ago, webfact said: Itthiphol said that Tom Yum Kung or Thailand's spicy prawn soup would be nominated next. Great. Just hope they give a nod to the Portuguese for giving them the Chillis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadie Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 10 hours ago, Saint Nick said: ...and heeeeeere we go again! "Today's Songkhran is bad!" "The good old traditional way is sooooo beautiful!" "It's just a waste of water!" So lame and predictable! a) Seriously? 361 days, no one gives two hot ones about water management, but 4 days of Songkhran do all the damage? b) Yeah...bowing down to Buddha and bowing in front of your elders, washing their feet... what an absolutely lovely tradition! c) If you want to complain about Songkhran, complain about the passiveness of law- enforcement, when it comes to drunk driving and sexual assault! But all you miserable folk can do, is complain about people, having fun for 3 or 4 days! d) Can it be, that you are very selective, when it comes to crying over traditions, not observed? The ones you like: super good! The ones you don't like: >deleted< You wrong on just one point. The miserable folk don't just whinge for 3 - 4 days its everyday. It would be a pleasant change if they gave it a rest for 3 - 4 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokenbone Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 for the sake of mankind, i hope this criminal act doesnt spread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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