10 Curious Superstitions You'll Find In Thailand

Thais are a superstitious bunch, with an endless list of cultural beliefs. Many superstitions involve ghosts or bad luck and while some are referred to in good humour others are simply stated as fact. Eager to discover more about Thai culture? We’ve compiled a list of 10 curious superstitions you’ll find in the Land of Smiles.

Ghosts will tell you the winning lottery numbers

Ghosts play an integral part in Thai culture and belief, so much so that they are even believed to predict your future in the form of the next winning lottery numbers. This can happen in a number of ways and even occurs in haunted trees “hinting” lottery numbers.

Do not get a haircut on a Wednesday

Most hairdressers are closed on a Wednesday and not just for no good reason. Thais believe it is not only bad luck to have your haircut on a Wednesday but that it is also an auspicious day. This belief originated from members of the royal family having their hair cut on a Wednesday and therefore common people were prohibited to do so.

How long will you live?

It’s simple. If a picture of you falls off the wall and the glass or frame breaks you will die soon. When you are eating noodles, don’t cut the noodles, the longer the noodles the longer you will live.

Babies are not cute! Well, they are but…

The children are adorable in Thailand and it is hard not to go all mushy and exclaim how adorable they are, but superstition is that if you call a baby cute it will be taken away by a ghost. It is also believed that if a pregnant woman attends a funeral her baby will be haunted by the spirit of a dead person once it is born.

All the single ladies

If you are a single female and sing while cooking or eating you will end up with an old husband. This belief was used to scare women who feared they would end up with an ancient husband.

Think twice before pointing at a rainbow

In many cultures, rainbows are considered good luck – in Thailand if you point at a rainbow your finger will fall off. It is advised (and safer!) that you point with all your fingers and the palm of your hand, same goes for holy images.

Local “accident insurance”

You’ve likely spotted Thai people wearing amulets of Buddha images with gold or silver plating around their neck. These are not simply decorative jewellery, they are believed to have sacred powers and protect from accident and illness, a form of local life insurance.

Don’t leave home if you….

If you hear a gecko before you leave your home, it is considered a warning sign that something bad will happen and you should, therefore, stay home.

Haunted dolls (luk thep)

Luk thep, which translates to child angel, caused a viral fad when Bangkok hipsters decided to carry around these haunted dolls where ever they went. Luk thep, contain the spirit of a child and are believed to boost cash flow and bring prosperity to their doting humans.

Don’t look between your legs! (It’s not what your thinking)

It is a common belief that if you bend down and look between your legs you will see a ghost, many Thai people avoid doing this as they are scared of coming face to face with a ghost.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.