Bringing a New Year gift when visiting elders is a clear way to show respect and care, and bakery treats are one of the gifts many people should not overlook.
New Year's Day falls on 1 January every year. But did you know that Thailand has changed its New Year's Day several times in the past? Today, 1 January is the international New Year, while Songkran is still celebrated as the Thai New Year.
A Brief History of New Year in Thailand
New Year's Day in Thailand has been changed 4 times in total, following changes to the zodiac calendar and lunar months:
- The 1st waxing day of the first lunar month
- The 1st waxing day of the fifth lunar month, following Brahmin tradition
- 1 April 1889 (B.E. 2432)
- 1 January 1941 (B.E. 2484)
During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), New Year was celebrated around Songkran, which is why some Thais still regard Songkran as the Thai New Year.
New Year was first celebrated as a public festival on 1 April 1934 (B.E. 2477), when it was called Trut Songkran. The government moved New Year's Day to 1 January to follow international practice, ending the Brahmin and Buddhist way of counting the new year and adopting the global standard without conflicting with Buddhist principles of reckoning days, while also reviving Thai national culture, values and traditions.
At New Year, people like to exchange gifts, visit elderly relatives, prepare celebratory meals with their families and hold parties at work. On New Year's Day, people commonly:
- Make merit, offer alms to monks, visit a temple or observe the rituals of their own religion
- Decorate their homes to welcome the New Year
- Hold parties and share meals with friends and family
- Pay respect to and ask for blessings from family elders or respected seniors
- Exchange gifts and send each other good wishes
As the festive New Year season approaches, besides meeting up with friends, many people will surely visit elders or relatives, whether they live nearby or in another province. The challenge everyone faces is choosing a New Year gift for the elders they respect. Popular choices include fruit baskets, bird's nest gift sets, drink hampers, healthy snacks, jewelry and home décor.
Before choosing a gift, consider the recipient's gender, age and lifestyle; in short, their background. For an older person who still loves to work, choose bakes that go well with morning coffee, are easy to eat and have a soft texture. For an active person, we recommend crunchy, sweet bakes.
Bakes That Make Great New Year Gifts
1. Luk Chup (Thai Mung Bean Miniatures)
A Thai New Year sweet that never goes out of style. Besides being delicious, luk chup are beautiful and colorful, molded into all kinds of shapes such as animals, vegetables and fruit, every one of them tempting.
2. Kanom Kai (Thai Egg Cakes)
Kanom kai is another New Year treat that is delicious to make for yourself or to give to someone special, and it is sure to delight the recipient. Best of all, it keeps for several days, so why not make it as a New Year snack?
3. Choc Balls
Bite-sized chocolate balls are easy to make and delicious, perfect as a New Year treat. You can add almonds to the mix to make them a little more nutritious.
4. Crispy-Top Brownies
A delicious dessert that is sure to impress someone special. As well as giving them as a New Year gift, you can make them as a New Year snack for yourself or take them along to eat in the car on a road trip.
5. Nama Chocolate
A New Year treat packed with rich chocolate flavor. From the very first bite you can feel it melt smoothly on your tongue, making it a must-try. You can also add green tea for a more rounded, even more tempting flavor.
6. Cornflake Caramel
A New Year treat that is easy to make, truly delicious and keeps for several days, as long as it is stored in a bag or a box with a tight-fitting lid. It is full of sweet caramel goodness plus all the benefits of cereal, and you will find it hard to stop eating.
7. Cat Paw Cookies
Adorable cookies shaped like cat paws that look almost too tempting to resist. If you have the time, try making cat paw cookies as a New Year snack or a gift for someone special. You won't be disappointed.
Every one of these treats looks delicious, doesn't it? This New Year, try making them as snacks and you will be hooked, or give them as gifts that are sure to please.
