This morning volunteers in Thailand headed out early to the house of our association director to start the Chinese New Year celebrations. Shortly after sunrise we left to help with preparations for one of the important ceremonies for Thai-Chinese people.

After some cultural introduction by our host we set tables with offering for the ancestors. The offerings usually consist of duck, chicken, pork, various fruit, Chinese cake and other food.

The ceremony starts with lighting the candles and joss sticks and some prayers. Later symbolic gold, money, clothes and other items are burnt as offerings to the ancestors.

After the ceremony volunteers and family sat together to eat and learn more about the tradions and history of the Thai-Chinese population in Thailand.