An Ethnographic Study of Dessert Culture in the Tenth Lunar Month Festival
Issued Date
2022-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16866541
eISSN
26976056
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85147029477
Journal Title
Journal of Mekong Societies
Volume
18
Issue
3
Start Page
182
End Page
206
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Mekong Societies Vol.18 No.3 (2022) , 182-206
Suggested Citation
Nomnian S. An Ethnographic Study of Dessert Culture in the Tenth Lunar Month Festival. Journal of Mekong Societies Vol.18 No.3 (2022) , 182-206. 206. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/83421
Title
An Ethnographic Study of Dessert Culture in the Tenth Lunar Month Festival
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Consumption practices related to desserts can be based on and influenced by many factors, including religious and spiritual beliefs, local wisdom, traditions, politics, economy, and sociocultural identities of communities. This article presents research findings on a group of special desserts used in the Tenth Lunar Month Festival in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand. The study drew upon ethnographic fieldwork related to the production, consumption, and use of these traditional desserts in ceremonies during this festival. The findings reveal that the community’s positive perceptions, values, and attitudes, as well as the evolving practices related to these desserts are linked to their sociocultural spirituality, way of life, and local economy. Recently, there has been a concerted effort to revive and maintain the festival and its related dessert culture through public and private partnerships. In addition, there is a need to support local tourism and local businesses in integrating cultural events, so that this festival and the dessert culture will continue to be sustained and appreciated by generations to come.