THAI ORIGINS AND THE THAI NEW YEAR
The Tais migrated southward into Thailand from their farming, areas of southern China long ago. With them they brought their culture, customs and beliefs which were based on a combination of Chinese models and local climatic features of crop sowing, and harvest times. The calendar was lunar and based on the farming cycle of their area, which began in the first lunar month of Deuan Ai (late November - early December: See Chart 1: Months of the Thai Lunar Calendar) and ended in the twelfth lunar month of Deuan Sib Sorng (late October - early November).After migrating southward to the more tropical climate of Thailand and adapting to new cultures already in the area as well as somewhat different weather patterns, a change took place and the flew Year eventually came to be celebrated in April.