Home is the place where we spend most of our time, second only to the workplace. For many people, home is a safe place to relax. That is why people pay close attention to how they arrange and take care of their homes. This has led to many traditional beliefs about the home that many people have heard of.
1. Do Not Step on the Door Sill
Many people have been told by their elders not to step on the door sill when entering or leaving the house. According to traditional belief, a sacred spirit protects the door sill, so people should always step over it. In fact, this belief was a way to help prevent accidents. In the past, many Thai houses were built near rivers and canals, so the door sill was made higher to keep dust and water from coming into the house. It also helped prevent small children from crawling out and falling into the water.
2. Do Not Sweep the House at Night
According to an old belief, sweeping the house at night means sweeping money and good fortune out of the house. In fact, houses in the past did not have electricity. Most Thai houses were wooden houses built on stilts, and the wooden floors had small gaps between the boards. If people swept the floor at night, they might accidentally sweep small items through the gaps under the house, where they could be mixed with the rubbish and become difficult to find.
3. Do Not Leave Clothes Outside Overnight
People in the past believed that Krasue would use the clothes to wipe its mouth if they were left outside overnight. In fact, this belief was a way to help protect clothes. Leaving clothes outside at night could increase the risk of theft. The clothes could also get wet from rain or dew. More importantly, poisonous animals or insects might crawl onto the clothes, which could be dangerous when someone wears them.
4. Do Not Sharpen Knives at Night
There is an old belief that almost every sharp object has a spirit living in it. Therefore, people should not play with knives because they believe a ghost may push them. In fact, the main reason for not sharpening knives at night is that there is not enough light at night, making it difficult to see clearly and increasing the risk of getting cut by a knife. Playing with a knife can also make people less careful, which may cause them to fall and accidentally stab themselves.
5. Do Not Leave the Kitchen Dirty
People in the past believed that the kitchen should never be left dirty because it would bring bad luck. In fact, if the kitchen is not kept clean, germs can build up and contaminate the food, which may cause people in the house to become sick.
6. Do Not Sit on the Stairs
Many people have probably been told by their elders not to sit and play on the stairs. According to traditional belief, sitting on the stairs will bring bad luck or trouble to the people living in the house. In fact, this belief was meant to remind children not to sit on the stairs because they could block the way and cause other people to trip and fall. In the past, the stairs of Thai houses were outside the house, and many had only one handrail or no handrail at all.
7. Do Not Skip Steps When Using the Stairs
According to traditional belief, skipping steps on the stairs will make it difficult to earn a living, make business unsuccessful, and cause things to not go as planned. In fact, this belief is not only a warning but also a lesson. It teaches people to do things step by step, not to do more than they are able to, and not to skip important steps. Just like walking up or down the stairs, you should take one step at a time because skipping steps may cause you to fall.
8. Do Not Sleep with Your Head Facing West
Many people pay attention to feng shui when arranging their bedrooms. According to traditional belief, people should not sleep with their heads facing west because it is believed to be the direction of the dead, which may cause bad dreams and poor sleep. In fact, west-facing walls receive strong afternoon sunlight and store heat during the day. At night, the walls release the heat. If the head of the bed is placed against a west-facing wall, it may make it difficult to sleep because it feels too warm and uncomfortable.
9. Do Not Plant Trees from a Temple at Home
According to traditional belief, bringing a tree from a temple to plant at home is considered unlucky because trees in temples are regarded as sacred. It is believed that doing so may bring hardship in life. In fact, moving a tree is not easy and may damage its roots. That is why most people do not move trees from temples to their homes. This belief also reminds people that they should not take public property for their own use.
10. Do Not Plant Frangipani at Home
People in the past believed that the name “Lan Thom” sounds similar to the Thai word “Rathom,” which means sadness. Because of this, they believed that planting a frangipani tree at home would bring bad things to the family. In fact, the frangipani tree has poisonous sap and often attracts caterpillars. Planting it at home may be dangerous. Today, however, this tree is widely used in landscaping and is now commonly called Leelawadee.
However, these are all personal beliefs. Everyone is free to believe what they choose. Sometimes, these beliefs can remind us to be more careful in our daily lives. If you would like to read more articles, please visit the ARM’S ARMOR website. You can also follow and like the ARM’S ARMOR Facebook page so you won’t miss our latest articles.