Every year, many people in Thailand with Chinese ancestors, celebrate the Chinese New Year with elaborate ceremonies. The Year of the Rabbit, starts on Thursday 3rd February 2011. About 200 of our students were absent from class today and the sound of fire crackers could be heard often as people made offerings to Chinese Gods and their ancestors. The following pictures are of the ceremony at our school today.

The splendid banquet above was not prepared for school lunch but rather for teachers of Chinese origin to pay respect to Chinese deities and their ancestors so that they will receive blessings in return.

The offerings include steamed duck, chicken, pork, fruit, Chinese cake and vegetarian food such as dried mushrooms, bean cakes and edible Chinese flowers.

Also taking part in the ceremony were the four foreign teachers from America. They were interested to see how the Chinese celebrated the new year.

Paper money, clothes and gold are also offered to the ancestors.

Towards the close of the ceremony, all of the paper offerings were burnt. Then some firecrackers were lit.

เมื่อใกล้เสร็จพิธีได้ทำพิธีเผากระดาษที่จัดไว้และจุดประทัด แสดงถึงเป็นการเริ่มต้นปีด้วยความคึกคักหรือที่เรียกว่า " ไคเหมินเพ่า " (开门炮) เพื่อต้อนรับวันแรกของปี