Folk Games and Sports |193
Thai Kite
Sport of the Wind
Kite is a game for Thai people’s enjoyment and entertainment for long time. According to a historical
evidence, Thai people have played kites since the Sukhothai period, by using Phai Si Suk (spiny bamboo) to
make kite’s frame because the local material is flexible and can be sharpened to any desired size. Bamboo
sticks are put together into various shapes, tied with a line covered with strong thin paper, such as rice
paper (mulberry paper) decorated with dots or flower patterns, to adhere the paper with the line firmly.
Kite flying is popular among Thai people in all regions, while their playing season depends on wind. People
in the Northern and Northeastern regions prefer to play kites in winter, from November to February, when the
wind from the north blows to Chao Phraya River in the South or blows from the land to the sea. Thai people
in the Central, Western and Southern regions most likely play kites from March to April, when the wind blows
from the Southwest, from the sea to the land.
Even though wind is the key factor of kite flying, the form of kites and strong lines which are good for
wind resistance are also other factor in a joyful kite flying. Kite line, if kite is played for entertainment, should
not be too long to see the kite in the air. In contrast, play kites for competitions will need longer strings as
it is a competition on kite control.