Thai Superstitions

Thai Superstitions about colours

Did you know that in Thailand that each day of the week is assigned a different colour for clothes you wear? I didn't really know about this at first but after a few years I was starting to get curious as to why people were giving me a different coloured shirt for my birthday. They were also telling me which day I should wear them! I started to get suspicious when they bought me a bright orange shirt and said I should wear it on Thursdays. That is when I discovered that each day of the week has its own colour.

Sunday - red
Monday - cream/yellow
Tuesday - pink
Wednesday - green
Thursday - orange/brown
Friday - blue
Saturday - black/purple

These days I have to wear a white shirt and tie at school. So, I don't pay attention to it so much any more. Anyway, you don't see many Thai people wearing the correct colour clothes for each day. But, some might wear a small piece of clothing, like a tie or handkerchief, which is the correct colour.

I think many people pay more attention to the colour of their day of birth. This then becomes their lucky colour. Some households might tie two colours around the pole of a spirit house - one for the husband and one for the wife. Even royal flags show the day the person was born. For example, Princess Sirindhorn was born on a Saturday so her flag is purple. The King was born on a Monday so his flag is yellow. The Queen was born on a Friday so her flag is blue.

Thai Superstitions about day of the week

If you were born on a....

Sunday, don't do anything auspicious on a Friday.
Monday, don't do anything auspicious on a Sunday.
Tuesday, don't do anything auspicious on a Monday.
Wednesday, don't do anything auspicious on a Tuesday.
Thursday, don't do anything auspicious on a Saturday.
Friday, don't do anything auspicious on a Wednesday.
Saturday, don't do anything auspicious on a Wednesday in the middle of the night!

Start Building a New House
Like anything else in Thai society, there are auspicious days for starting to build a house.

Good days: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Bad days: Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Ceremony for a New House
When Thai people have built a new house, they usually invite some monks to bless the house. However, there are certain days when you can do this:

Good days: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
Bad Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays

Forbidden Days
Don't do anything special or auspicious on Tuesdays (like wedding, new house ceremony etc.). If you do it there will be bad consequences
On Wednesdays, don't make merit in your house or have a new hair style cut.

Don't have a funeral on Fridays because the word for Friday in Thai, "sook", sounds like the same word for "happy"

Thai Superstitions about marriage

There is a Thai superstition that if you and your lover are born on the correct days then you will have a long and happy marriage.

These combinations will succeed:

A man born on Sunday and a woman born on Monday (and vice versa)
A man born on Friday and a woman born on Tuesday (and vice versa)
A man born on Thursday and a woman born on Sunday (and vice versa)
A man born on Wednesday and a woman born on Saturday (and vice versa)
A man born on Monday and a woman born on Saturday (and vice versa)
A man born on Wednesday and a woman born on Monday (and vice versa)
A man born on Friday and a woman born on Sunday (and vice versa)

These combinations will not succeed at all:

People born on Monday and Thursday
People born on Sunday and Tuesday
People born on Friday and Saturday
People born on Wednesday and Wednesday

Thai Superstitions about washing hair

Wash your hair on Sunday - you will live long
Wash your hair on Monday - you will be lucky and have a lot of money
Wash your hair on Tuesday - you will defeat your enemy
Wash your hair on Wednesday - bad luck, some people will say bad things about you
Wash your hair on Thursday - very good: the angels will look after you
Wash your hair on Friday - good: you will live happily
Wash your hair on Saturday - very good: the things you plan and carry out will be successful

Thai Superstitions about Gemstones

Lucky Gemstones sorted by Month of Birth

January - garnet and malachite
February - amethyst and opal
March - tourmaline and bloodstone
April - diamond
May - emerald
June - pearl and moonstone
July - ruby
August - amber
September - black sapphire and blue sapphire
October - opal and tourmaline
November - topaz
December - turquoise

Lucky Gemstones sorted by Day of Birth

Sunday - ruby
Monday - diamond
Tuesday - black sapphire and garnet
Wednesday - emerald
Wednesday evening - lapis lazuli
Thursday - topaz
Friday - blue sapphire
Saturday - zircon and black sapphire

Lucky Gemstones sorted by Thai Year Horoscope

Year of the Rat - garnet
Year of the Ox - moonstone
Year of the Tiger - zircon
Year of the Rabbit - lapis lazuli or emerald
Year of the Dragon - lapis lazuli
Year of the Snake - diamond
Year of the Horse - black sapphire
Year of the Sheep - moonstone
Year of the Monkey - topaz
Year of the Rooster - garnet
Year of the Dog - emerald
Year of the Pig - lapis lazuli

Thai Superstitions about Food and Eating

Don't eat a double banana because if you are a woman you will give birth to twins.

Don't eat before your elders because in your next life you will be born as a dog.

Don't eat food without rice because you will get rickets.

Don't eat salt under a tree because it will make the tree die.

Don't eat the leftovers from your child because it will make the kid naughty.

Don't eat corn when you have the flu because it will give you a higher fever.

Don't eat cold rice with hot rice because you will lose your way easily the next time you go out.

Don't eat chicken feet because it will give you bad handwriting.

Don't eat turtles because it will make you walk slowly.

Don't eat other people's food without permission because it will make your throat swollen.

Don't eat before a monk because you will become a bad ghost.

Don't eat all of the rice during your evening meal because you should leave some for the elves.

Don't eat egg when you have cut yourself because it will make it worse.

Don't eat chili sauce in the mortar bowl because if you are a woman you will give birth to a child with big lips.

Don't eat dog because the dog's spirit will possess you.

Superstitions about Animals

Do not kill big animals such as elephant, horse, cow, buffalo, etc. because it is a big sin
Do not touch a buffalo horn because it won't grow any more
Do not turn over a puppy because it will go and eat your chicken
Do not touch a horse's tail because it will get sick
Do not hit a dog with a bamboo pole meant for carrying things because it will become rabid
Do not hit a cat because it is as much sinful as hitting a novice monk
Do not hit a cat on the head because when you grow old your head will shake like the cat did when you hit it
Do not rest a cow or a buffalo in the temple grounds because it is a sin
Do not let a black cat jump across a corpse because the dead spirit will then become an angry ghost
Do not raise five cats and six dogs because it will be bad luck for you
Do not chain a monkey because your children will have small wrists like it has been chained
Do not pat a cat’s back because you will make it thin
Do not catch a firefly because your plates and bowls will break often
Do not allow a husband and wife to go and see a snake together because the wife will have a miscarriage

Thai Superstitions about Washing

Do not wash you clothes on the same day a relation is cremated, because the ghost will come and take you away
Do not wash your clothes during the night-time because you will become sick whenever you wear these clothes
Do not wash the mosquito net in the canal because a crocodile will attack you
Do not wash the plates of food that a neighbour gave you because you will hate each other
Do not wash your plates at night-time because you will wash away your money
Do not wash your hands together with other people because you will die together
Do not wash your rice cooker at night-time because you should save some for the house ghost

Supersitions Regarding Pregnant Women

Do not walk over lemon grass because the baby will come out with a withered leg.
Do not enter the chapel when an ordination is in process because you will then have a difficult delivery.
Do not watch an eclipse of the sun and the moon because the baby will be cross-eyed.
Do not walk and eat because it will hurt a lot when you give birth.
Do not step across the reins of a horse because the baby will stay longer in the womb.
Do not fish because the baby will be difficult to come out.
Do not sit on the steps because the baby will be difficult to come out.
Do not go to a funeral because a ghost will come and take the baby away.
Do not look after sick people because they won't get well.

Supersitions about Walking

Do not look down while you are walking because it will make your life shorter and no-one will love you.
Do not stomp your feet while in the house because you will scare the house spirits away and there will be no-one to look after the house.
Do not walk heavily because this kind of person won't be able to save money.
Do not step over sharp objects like scissors or knives because you will make it lose its sharpness.
Do not step over a book because it will make you stupid.
Do not step over the piece of wood propping up a banana tree because the bananas will be small.
Do not walk over a charcoal brazier because you will get in trouble.
Do not step over a gun or other hunting weapon because you will make the magic go away.
Do not step over a pole that is used to carry loads on your shoulders because you will get a gallstone

Superstitions about Lying Down and Sleeping

Do not sleep with your legs crossed because you will have a suffocating feeling in your dreams
Do not put your hand across your forehead because nobody will love you.
Do not eat while lying down because you will become a snake in your next life.
Do not sleep naked because the angel won't protect you.
Do not lie down with one knee up because a very violent class of demon will suck your blood.
Do not sleep under the beam of the house because the ghost will possess you easily.
Do not sleep near the threshold of the house because you will have a suffocating feeling in your dreams
Do not sleep on the gaps between the floorboards because a ghost will drag you down the hole.
Do not count the stars while lying down because it will make your life short.
Do not sleep in the kitchen because you will marry an old maid/man.
Do not sleep in the early evening because the ghost will come and take your soul.
Do not sleep while the sun is setting because you will never get up.
Do not sleep with your head pointing west because that is where ghosts live.
Do not lie down and read a book because it will make you stupid.

Superstitions about Sneezing

If you sneeze two or three times in a row, it means that someone is complaining or gossiping about you.
If you sneeze in the morning between 6 a.m. - 9 a.m., you will be lucky that day, you might get a promotion, if you have to travel you will have a safe trip
If you sneeze in the late morning between 9.01 a.m. - 12 p.m. you will receive good news from someone far away. You will be successful in your work.
If you sneeze in the early afternoon between 12.01 p.m. - 3 p.m. you will receive some good news from someone of the opposite sex. Or you will have a romantic meeting with someone you love.
If you sneeze in the late afternoon between 3.01 p.m. and 6 p.m. you will receive some good news regarding business. If you have lost anything you will get it back. Your investments will be successful. You shouldn't have anything to do with the opposite sex.
If you sneeze in the early afternoon between 6.01 p.m. - midnight, do not accept anything from anyone because bad things will happen.
If you sneeze between midnight until 6 a.m., be aware someone will come to ask to stay with you. Do not allow them. If someone asks for help, do not help. They will bring trouble.
During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing from high above, your trip will be dangerous. You shouldn't continue.
During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing from below, this will be a good trip, you might meet your soulmate.
During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing in front of you, you will have a safe trip. Some good things are waiting for you.
During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing behind you, it will be a bad trip. You should stop and go back staright away because bad things will happen like you will have an accident or you will be robbed.
During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing on your right, you will have a safe trip and no troubles.
During your travels, if you hear someone sneezing on your left, this trip will be successful. You should hurry because something big is waiting for you.

Superstitions about Geckos and Mice

Old people believe that having a gecko inside the house is lucky. They believe that geckos are relations that have died and been reborn to look after their children.

If you hear a gecko between 6 a.m. and noon it means that good news is on its way.
If you hear a gecko between 12.01 p.m. and 6 p.m. it is a sign of something bad to come.
If you hear a gecko between 6.01 p.m. and midnight it could be bad and good news coming your way.
If you hear a gecko between 12.01 a.m. and 6 a.m. then it doesn't mean anything. It is its normal cry.
If you hear a gecko cry four times in a row it means that within 15 days there will be trouble in the family.

If you hear a mouse in the house then you won't get ill. You wil get money and wealth. The people in your family will be safe from accidents. But, you should stay away from bad people because they will bring bad luck. You will receive gifts from elder relations that will bring you joy. The opposite sex will bring you wealth and you might also get promotion.



Superstitions about another animals
Thai superstitions involving small creatures with tails such as: house lizard, mouse, bird, bat, centipede, bee and other flying insects.

If the creature lands in front of you and its tail points to you: you will be lucky, you will receive precious gifts and the angels will look after you.

If the creature lands in front of you and its tail points to your right: you will get presents from your relations.

If the creature lands in front of you and its tail points to your left: you and your relations will be in danger or ill. You should go and make merit straight away.

If the creature lands on your left hand: you will have good luck and you will either inherit something expensive, get a promotion or live a happy life.

If the creature falls down and hits your right hand: bad things will happen to the people in your family. There will be no happiness in your life.

If the creature lands in the middle of a circle of people: everyone should be careful as bad things could happen to each and every person.

If one of these creatures falls down dead in the street while you are walking by: bad things might happen which might cause you to bleed and consequently die.

If one of these creatures falls down in the street and manages to crawl away unassisted: bad things might happen, you will get injured or get involved in a fight.



Here are some more Thai superstitions and old wives tales which have shaped Thai people today.

Do not wear your amulet when you go to the toilet. If you do so it will no longer be sacred.
Do not tap repeatedly with a spoon or chopsticks on a bowl of rice. Because you are inviting a ghost to come and eat with you.
The same goes for the top of the rice cooker. You will upset the rice goddess.
Do not kill yourself. It is a very bad sin.
Do not taste food with a large serving spoon. It will make your child look ugly.
Do not point your finger at a monk. You will lose your finger.
Do not point your finger at a rainbow. It will make your finger fall off.
Do not cut the wood for the stairs with a knife. Because the ghost will make you fall down the stairs.
Do not place a plate on top of another while you are eating. It will make you unable to pay off your debts.
Do not sell a needle in the middle of the night. Your shop will not be profitable.
Do not smell the flowers that you are going to offer to the monk. Something bad will happen to your nose.
Do not say bad things to your parents. It is a really bad sin.
Do not insult or say bad things to a monk. In the next life you will be deaf and dumb.
Do not insult sunshine, wind or rain because mother nature will make something bad happen to you.
Do not let toddlers who cannot talk yet eat fish. It will make their gums bleed.

Do not let your children play with shadows during the evening. The shadow guy will come and take them away.
Do not pick flowers in the temple grounds. You will go to hell when you die.
Do not walk with your face down. It will make your life shorter.
Do not stomp as you walk around the house. You will scare the guardian spirits of the house.
Do not walk heavily. You won't be able to save any money.
Do not walk across any sharp objects. It will make them unsharp.
Do not hit your parents. You will become a very bad ghost.
Do not boil an egg in a rice cooker. It will make your life worse.
Do not set up a spirit house in the shadow of a house. The owner of the house won't be successful.
Do not cut your hair on Wednesday. It is bad luck for you.
Do not cut your nails during the night-time. It will be like breaking the bones of your ancestors.
Do not insult a Buddha image. You will go to hell.
Do not get married on odd numbered months. It is a bad omen for your marriage.
Do not spit or complain about the smell at a funeral. Bad things will happen to you.
Do not take off your clothes or sleep next to the closet. A ghost will come to haunt you.

Don’t whistle at night because you will invite ghosts into your house.
Don’t let women eat chicken feet because they will have an affair
Do not let pregnant women whistle because her baby will have a crooked mouth
Do not allow an adult pay respect to a child (wai) because that child will have a shortened life
Do not joke while you are eating because the ghost will steal your rice
Do not cover your head when you go to a temple because this will make you bald
Do not sharpen a knife at night time because you will offend the angels
Do not look at naked people because your eyes will become swollen
Do not have sexual intercours on holy days (wan phra) because bad things will happen.
Do not let the bride and the groom meet three days before the wedding because their marriage will not last
Do not smile while sowing corn because it won’t grow
Do not stand in a doorway because a ghost will enter the house
Do not sew at night because the ghost will haunt you
Do not throw money away because you will lose your finger
Do not sing while you are eating because the ghost will curse you

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