La très catastrophique visite du zoo

Joël Dicker

Description

What does it mean to welcome a soul into the world?

In Thai culture, the birth of a baby is not merely the beginning of life—it is a sacred return. A soul is believed to travel from previous realms, through ancestral lines, into the care of a new family. To welcome this soul, Thai communities perform intricate rituals that blend Buddhist wisdom, animist beliefs, and local folklore. These blessings are not only for health and protection—they serve to bind the child to a greater spiritual web, ensuring safety, belonging, and continuity.

Birth and Binding: Thai Baby Blessing Rituals invites readers into the deeply symbolic world of Thai childbirth customs. From the burial of the placenta to the cutting of the first hair, from thread-binding ceremonies to the calling of ancestral spirits, each chapter explores how communities across Thailand sanctify the earliest moments of life. These practices are more than cultural tradition—they are spiritual technologies for anchoring a newborn to the land, lineage, and life purpose.

Across six immersive chapters, author Montree Sandee documents diverse baby blessing practices observed in rural villages, urban temples, and hospital maternity wards. The book reveals regional variations, gender-specific customs, and the role of spiritual leaders—be they Buddhist monks, spirit mediums, or elders. It also examines the emotional depth of these ceremonies, showing how birth rituals help families process anxiety, loss, or change.

Readers will discover:

The symbolism of white threads in Thai rituals How placenta burial reflects beliefs about rebirth and ancestral connection The powerful role of grandparents in spiritually protecting the child Differences between Northern, Isaan, and Central Thai traditions How modern parents blend tradition with contemporary medical practice

Written for both cultural researchers and curious readers, this book bridges academic insight with heartfelt storytelling. Whether you're a student of Southeast Asian studies, a diaspora Thai reconnecting with your roots, or a traveler who's witnessed baby ceremonies in rural Thailand and wondered what they meant—this book offers context, reverence, and clarity.

As part of the Sacred Thai: Ghosts, Beliefs, and Rituals in Thai Culture series, this volume continues Montree's mission to document the living spiritual traditions of Thailand. Other books in the series explore funeral rites, soul-calling rituals, ghost beliefs, spirit possession, and seasonal festivals. Together, these works form a textured tapestry of Thailand's invisible life—the spiritual layer that moves beneath the surface of everyday experience.

In a time when birth is increasingly medicalized and globalized, Birth and Binding reminds us that every new life carries mystery, memory, and meaning. Through its pages, readers are gently invited to consider what it truly means to protect, bless, and receive a soul.

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