Day 3 Appeasing the spirits

8th January 2023

In Thailand and other countries in this part of the world, old animistic beliefs are completely entwined with Buddhism and you see colourful spirit houses everywhere.

The purpose of these rean preah phum or ‘shrines for the guardian-spirit’ is to appease the spirits by providing congenial earthly shelters for them. Spirit houses vary greatly in size, scale and elaboration, depending on the means of a household.

The spirits consulted with and prayed to most often are called the Guardians of the House, who watch over and protect the home and help in business matters, and the Guardians of the Gardens who watch over and protect the natural surroundings, yards, gardens and orchards. Thai houses have spirit shrines both inside the house and in the yard outside.

These spirits are not considered to be either good nor evil but capricious, finicky and mischievous. They are thought to demand respect from humans and to be capable of interfering in human affairs and causing negative and even disastrous consequences if they are not treated with sufficient reverence or don’t get their way.

Spirit houses usually contain small figures, especially of elephants, and other symbols placed inside and around the house. Outside, around the balcony that usually surrounds a spirit house, there are incense holders, candle sticks, and vases for flowers. Flower garlands are usually draped around the spirit house and candles and incense are lit daily.

Votive offerings of food and drink are also left at the shrine daily to propitiate the spirits. Rice, betel leaves, pieces of cooked chicken, bananas, coconuts and Thai sweets and desserts are common offerings. One of the most ubiquitous of offerings are bottles of sugary red, strawberry-flavoured Fanta. It is likely that the red colour of the Fanta also symbolizes the blood of sacrificial animals

The idea of the offerings is that friendly spirits will congregate to enjoy the free food and drink and their presence will serve to keep more malign spirits at bay. The sweetness of many of the offerings is because sweet spirits are thought to a have sweet tooth.