Who are the Karen hill tribes of northern Thailand?
Who are the Karen hill tribes of northern Thailand?

Karen Hill Tribe People
1. Population:
Thailand: 438,131 in 2003, distributed between 1.912 villages.
2. Name
The Karen are the largest ethnic minority in Thailand. The central Thais call them Kariang, and the northern Thais call them Yang. In Thailand, there are two main groups of Karen, the Sgaw or S’Kaw and the Pwo, together with two smaller groups, the Pa O (Taungtu or Tongsu) and the Kayah (Karenni or Bwe).
3. Language
Language family: Sino-Tibetan; language group: Tibeto-Burman
Linguistic branch: Karenni The two main languages spoken in Thailand are Sgaw and Pwo. They are very different from each other. There are also many dialects that frequently use words from the Burmese languages of Mon and Tai Yai (the language of the Shan).
4. Origins and migration
Karen, originating from Thibi Kawbi, settled in Burma centuries ago. After crossing the Salween River in the 18th century, they moved south to Thailand, settling with the Lawa and Yuan communities, due to conflicts between Thais and Burmese.
5. Location
Thailand (the provinces of Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Lampang and Sukothai).
– Burma.
6. Economy and agriculture
Karen farmers practice slash-and-burn farming, mainly growing rice on terraces, fruit, and vegetables. They use crop rotation, controlling burning and weeding to prevent soil erosion and fallow areas. The farming year is marked by festivals and special ceremonies, including the Karen New Year celebration. Animal husbandry includes raising chickens, pigs, water buffalo, and elephants.
7. Society
Karen society is matriarchal. The Karen are monogamous, and the family, i.e., a married couple and their children, constitutes the social and economic base of the tribe. So each family or household contains only one or two generations, in contrast with most of the other hill tribes, where there will be three or four generations in one house.
Marriage and divorce
In general, young men can marry the girl of their choice and can ask for her hand themselves. The agreement then
sealed by an exchange of pipes of tobacco between the families. The wedding lasts two or three days, during which there is a succession of processions and ceremonies and a great deal of eating and drinking. The bride replaces the long white dress that she wore as a girl with her new costume, which consists of a sarong and a blouse.
After they are married, the couple live for at least two years in the girl’s village, either in her parent’s house or in a house of their own. Moreover, sexual relations before marriage are forbidden, and it is not unusual for a young couple to have to pay a fine when they get married for having broken this rule.
Divorce is rare and heavily disapproved of. Adultery is even more severely condemned and is much rarer than in the other ethnic minorities because it brings the risk of being punished by the Lord of the Earth and Water in the form of bad harvests, sickness, etc.
Child-birth
When a Karen woman is pregnant, her first concern is following a special diet. She gives up drinking alcohol or eating jackfruit, which could cause skin disease in the baby.
The young woman gives birth at home in a crouching position, holding onto a rope that is tied to the main rope beam, while the midwives rub her stomach to ensure the baby comes out in the right way.
Once the baby is born, the placenta is placed inside a length of bamboo and buried. Then a priest comes and chants incantations, and a piece of white cotton is tied around the baby’s neck to ward off possible illness. A month later, a name-giving ceremony is held for the child.during which his or her ears are pierced, to show that the child is human and not a monkey.
Death and funeral rites
The Karen believe that a dead person goes to an underworld ruled by the Lord of the Earth and Water. Life there is the same as on earth, and the dead spend their time in similar occupations (farming, hunting, fishing, etc.). At a funeral, the body of the dead person is bathed, dressed in his or her best clothes, and then burned or buried in a ceremony where the women dance and sing with their faces covered in a silk veil.
8. Religious beliefs, practices and rites.
Karen, an animist group, believe in a Lord of the Earth and Water who controls natural phenomena. They have been converted to Christianity by Western missionaries and Buddhism by those living in lowland areas of Thailand or Burma. Each village has a priest responsible for maintaining harmony between the living and spirits, admitting new residents, and banishing those breaking taboos. An ancestral spirit (Bga) is honored annually, and Karens must attend ceremonies dressed in Karen costumes. Due to geographical dispersal, some Karens tattoo their bodies with protective signs. They also value the thirty souls, or Kala, that keep humans alive.
10. Villages
Karen, an animist group, believes in a Lord of the Earth and Water who masters natural phenomena. In the 20th century, many Karen were converted to Christianity by Western missionaries, while others, especially in lowland areas of Thailand or Burma, converted to Buddhism. The priest in each village maintains harmony between the living and spirits by offering offerings and ensuring the protection of family members. The ancestral spirit (Bga) is honored annually, and members dress in Karen costumes to participate in ceremonies. The Karen also value the forces that keep men alive, with thirty Kala souls that live within each human being.
11. Houses
Karen houses are built on stilts, with bamboo walls and roofs covered with thatched reeds or leaves. The house has a large veranda for cooking and weaving, a single room with a hearth, and a screen for privacy. There is no altar or central building for religious purposes, unlike in Christian villages with a church. A separate rice barn is built from the same materials, and rice can be stored in woven baskets. The grindstone used for milling rice serves as a meeting place for multiple families.
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February 19, 2023 -
Visiting the temples and the view from the mountain Jack shared the history of these beautiful temples as well as their religion. Jack was wonderful as a guide sharing... read more these incredible places and their history Getting to enjoy the temples while listening to the chanting of the monks. Àmazing views of Chiang Mai from the mountain. Jack speaks excellent English and took the time for us to explore each temple while also showing us Chiang Mai as well. Incredible day with a very knowledgeable and friendly guide.
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February 7, 2023 -
From Chang Mai, Doi Suthep, Sticky waterfall, to Doi Inthanon Hill tribe homestay and Sukhothai ancient ruin bike tour. Jack took great care of us. My favorite part was when... read more he took us to his friends house in the mountains of Doi Inthanon where we picked our vegetables for our dinner, cooked dinner with our village tribe homestay family, walked on the farm and met local hill tribe farmers, and even got to roast coffee while we were there from the local arabica plants in the backyard. After staying with the hill tribe village Chief Jack knew we wanted to see ancient ruins and recommended we bike around in Sukhothai. This was amazing since many tourists do not come here since it's farther away from Bangkok. We wanted to see Northern Thailand and we didn't really have much of a plan and good thing since Jack consulted with us about what we like and he gave us suggestions which we were super interested in and super grateful for.
Jack... What to say. Jack is super fun, very flexible, and incredibly kind. His English is very good and he showed us an amazing time around Northern Thailand in just 4 Days. I would recommend talking with Jack first before planning a super Rigid plan. Being flexible and talking with a local who has 20 years of experience in tourism in Thailand is what you get when you talk with Jack. If I could give 6 stars I would. Highly highly recommend staying overnight in Hill tribe village!!!!
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February 5, 2023 -
Jack is very professional and experienced. What made him excellent is his ability to gather information on what you want and provide you with the best options. His understanding of... read more traffic patterns, and other variables gave him the insight to provide great suggestions, which I'm glad we followed because he was right about the best food, coffee, and views and historical sites that had the least amount of crowded tourists. We also got to see the only elephant hospital! So cool!
Jack also has an exclusive relationship with a specific hill tribe that only allows his guests to visit as if they are family. We stayed in a very clean and bamboo home, picked fresh vegetables and cooked them with our hosts and enjoyed a hot shower in the jungle. Wow. What a way to unplug and enjoy the peaceful nature!515adav
January 30, 2023 -
Jack Private Tour Thailand is the best guide in Chiang Mai! - Jack is an experienced tourguide who is very motivated to give you the best tour experience in Chiang Mai!
We went on a full day tour to Doi... read more Ithanon National Park, where we did a beautiful hike, saw the King & Queen Pagoda, one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've seen and a local market.
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Whenever I return to Chiang Mai I would tour with Jack again! ***** 5 stars!Stan1980
January 30, 2023