Thai Tradition: Tiny Spirit Houses Honor the Departed
I felt Somewhat like Alice in Wonderland on a recent trip to Thailand. No cakes marked”Eat me” were swallowed, however the number of small houses perched precariously in lawns started to appear out of the ordinary. Every home I passed had a second, smaller home standing guard.
After consulting with the natives, I found that these little replicate houses standing on columns are believed to shelter the spirits which inhabit the property. It is thought that the spirits may affect people’s fortune in good or bad ways, depending on how pleased they are. The basic idea is that respecting past generations can help you live a happy life in the current.
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If loved ones have passed away, a lot of men and women keep their memory alive with photographs and keepsakes. The Thai people also vertical spirit houses to pay homage to individuals who are no longer physically here.
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The principle of a spirit house is simple: Keep the spirits happy, and the people of the principal house will have good luck. To appease the spirits, homeowners place fresh flowers, food and incense in the spirit houses. These are followed by more contemporary offerings, such as packs of cigars, 7-Eleven microwave foods, vibrant beverages and Starbucks lattes.
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Tiny figurines may also be found occupying the spirit homes, representing the principal house’s past ancestors and inhabitants of the family, or to provide amusement for the present resident spirits.
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These little spirit houses vary in design just as much as the adjacent main homes. Some are small and elegant, carved from teak and sparsely decorated.
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Others have been painted with intricate details, reminiscent of traditional Thai architecture.
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When the home isn’t teak, the colour is usually dependent on the day of the week the owner was born. If you had a spirit home, what color is it?
• Monday: yellow
• Tuesday: pink
• Wednesday: green
• Thursday: gold
• Friday: blue
• Saturday: purple
• Sunday: crimson
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The grade of a tiny home is in direct relation to the magnitude of the building or the whole lot where it is placed. Some of the larger apartment complexes and shopping malls have extra-big spirit houses and oversize pedestals, so a number of individuals can leave offerings.
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At some places there are multiple spirit houses on a lot. Tiny toy trucks and cars adorn the bottom spirit house here out an automobile dealership.
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The spirit houses boast brilliant ribbons and woven strands of flowers during the day.
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At night the houses take on a new look with chain candles, lights and miniature lanterns.
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Putting the spirit house in an auspicious place is extremely important. Most homeowners select a prominent location in a bright corner of the lot — one which isn’t concealed in the shadows of different buildings rather than too near the main property.
With new homes, many residents consult the services of a Brahmin priest or Buddhist monk to help ascertain the place. This may even lead to the original architect’s design of the main house’s being changed.
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If you are thinking about remodeling, don’t forget the spirit house!
For almost a week, I passed by a construction site and observed as a building was demolished. The spirit home, however, was never touched. A construction worker explained that you should not ruin the spirit home. If at all possible, it ought to be incorporated into the new layout. If it must be taken away, it ought to go to a particular designated graveyard that’s blessed by a priest or monk. It is thought that if that does not happen, the landowners are going to have very bad luck.
Heal the spirit house and also the spirits together with you and respect, in turn, will live a peaceful life.
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As Thai people pass by the spirit houses in Bangkok, they take a moment to wai (bow the head with hands clasped in prayer position in front of the face) and say a brief prayer to acknowledge those people who have moved on. Seeing this consistently made me grin. What a beautiful tradition to honor beyond generations.
Inform us: Can you have a shrine or other arrangement to honor the lives of deceased individuals you love?
More: 10 Ways to Honor and Remember a Departed Loved One at Home