| Theravada Buddhism is central to modern Thai | | | | Stepping over someone, or over food, is |
| identity and belief. In practice, Thai Buddhism has | | | | considered insulting. However, Thai culture as in |
| evolved over time to include many regional beliefs | | | | many other Asian cultures, is succumbing to the |
| originating from animism as well as ancestor | | | | influence of westernization and some of the |
| worship. In areas in the southernmost parts of | | | | traditional taboos are slowly fading away with |
| Thailand, Islam is prevalent. Several different | | | | time. |
| ethnic groups, many of which are marginalized, | | | | Books and other documents are the most |
| populate Thailand. Some of these groups overlap | | | | revered of secular objects - therefore one should |
| into Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia and | | | | not slide a book across a table or place it on the |
| have maintained a distinctly traditional way-of-life | | | | floor. |
| despite strong Thai cultural influence. Ethnic | | | | Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, |
| Chinese also form a significant part of Thai | | | | spicy, sour, bitter and salty. Some common |
| society, particularly in and around Bangkok. Their | | | | ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, |
| successful integration into Thai society has allowed | | | | lime juice, lemon grass, and fish sauce. The staple |
| for this group to hold positions of economic and | | | | food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety |
| political power, the most noteworthy of these | | | | rice (also known as Hom Mali rice) which is |
| being the Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, | | | | included in almost every meal. Thailand is the |
| who held power from 2001 until September 19, | | | | world's largest exporter of rice and Thais |
| 2006 when he was ousted by a military coup | | | | domestically consume over 100 kg of milled rice |
| d'état. | | | | per person per year. Over 5000 varieties of rice |
| Like most Asian cultures, respect towards | | | | from Thailand are preserved in the rice gene bank |
| ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual | | | | of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), |
| practice. Thais have a strong sense of hospitality | | | | based in the Philippines. The King of Thailand is the |
| and generosity, but also a strong sense of social | | | | official patron of IRRI. |
| hierarchy. Seniority is an important concept in Thai | | | | Thai culture has been greatly shaped in recent |
| culture. Thais will bow to the feet of their parents | | | | years by its vibrant and free press. There are |
| or grandparents to honor them. In addition, the | | | | numerous English, Thai and Chinese papers in |
| elders always rule in family decisions or | | | | circulation and Thailand is the largest newspaper |
| ceremonies. | | | | market in South East Asia with an estimated |
| Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport in | | | | circulation of at least 13 million copies daily in 2003. |
| Thailand and its native martial art. It achieved | | | | Thai visual art was traditionally primarily Buddhist. |
| popularity all over the world in the 1990s. Although | | | | Thai Buddha images from different periods have a |
| similar martial arts styles exist in other southeast | | | | number of distinctive styles. Contemporary Thai |
| Asian countries, few enjoy the recognition that | | | | art often combines traditional Thai elements with |
| Muay Thai has received with its full-contact rules | | | | modern techniques. |
| allowing strikes including elbows, throws and knees. | | | | Literature in Thailand is heavily influenced by Indian |
| Association football, however, has possibly | | | | culture. The most notable works of Thai literature |
| overtaken Muay Thai's position as most widely | | | | are a version of the Ramayana called the |
| viewed and liked sport in contemporary Thai | | | | Ramakien, written in part by Kings Rama I and |
| society and it is not uncommon to see Thais | | | | Rama II, and the poetry of Sunthorn Phu. |
| cheering their favourite English Premier League | | | | There is no tradition of spoken drama in Thailand, |
| teams on television and walking round in replica | | | | the role instead being filled by Thai dance. This is |
| kits. Another widely enjoyed passtime, and once a | | | | divided into three categories- khon, lakhon and |
| competitive sport, is kite flying. | | | | likay- khon being the most elaborate and likay the |
| The standard greeting in Thailand is a prayer-like | | | | most populist. Nang drama, a form of shadow |
| gesture called the wai (see namaste). Taboos | | | | play, is found in the south. |
| include touching someone's head or pointing with | | | | The music of Thailand includes classical and folk |
| the feet, as the head is considered the most | | | | music traditions as well as string or pop music. |
| sacred and the foot the dirtiest part of the body. | | | | |