HISTORY OF THE GARLANDS

[brall3]

About 8 to 10 years ago there was a Black American guy, I believe from Texas. who started the practice of give out garlands to the guys for their birthdays while he was in Pattaya.  He taped American dollar bills with Thai money; a very clever gesture.  I remember the reaction of the people was quite exciting when he placed a garland around the guys neck because no one had seen this before.  Several people would always smiled and give the American guy a thumbs up, and often they would clap.  Indeed it was a nice and novice gesture on the part of the American.  The American guy always did this, for special occasions, when he was in Pattaya.  I have no idea if he did this in Bangkok.  A few years later the idea of giving garlands to the guys finally caught on and is now commonly practiced.   I have not seen the American guy in Pattaya for quite a while now.  I heard that he was dating the ex-DJ at X-boy when he was in town.  

[floridarob]

I know Mexicans in Texas do it on birthdays.... and this is from Google:

The tradition of "garlands of money" for a birthday is most prominently seen in New Orleans, where friends and family pin money, often in dollar bills, onto the celebrant's clothing as a public announcement and a way to show well wishes. This tradition is rooted in African and African American customs of "dashing" people with money for good fortune, and it allows strangers to also give money to the birthday person. Another related practice is the creation of a money lei, common in Hawaiian and other Pacific Island traditions, where folded bills are strung together as a decorative gift. 

[khaolakguy]

7 hours ago, brall3 said:

About 8 to 10 years ago there was a Black American guy, I believe from Texas. who started the practice of give out garlands to the guys for their birthdays while he was in Pattaya.  He taped American dollar bills with Thai money; a very clever gesture.  I remember the reaction of the people was quite exciting when he placed a garland around the guys neck because no one had seen this before.  Several people would always smiled and give the American guy a thumbs up, and often they would clap.  Indeed it was a nice and novice gesture on the part of the American.  The American guy always did this, for special occasions, when he was in Pattaya.  I have no idea if he did this in Bangkok.  A few years later the idea of giving garlands to the guys finally caught on and is now commonly practiced.   I have not seen the American guy in Pattaya for quite a while now.  I heard that he was dating the ex-DJ at X-boy when he was in town.  

Sorry but it's nonsense to state that some bloke from Texas started the Thai practise of giving out money garlands and it was only ten years ago. I can remember seeing this happening in Thailand some 40 years ago. AI seemed to think that this practise started during the Sukhotai period with coins, but I can't remember that far back!

[vinapu]

11 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

AI seemed to think that this practise started during the Sukhotai period with coins, but I can't remember that far back!

See your doctor as it may be sign of senility setting in

[Londoner]

12 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Sorry but it's nonsense to state that some bloke from Texas started the Thai practise of giving out money garlands and it was only ten years ago. I can remember seeing this happening in Thailand some 40 years ago. AI seemed to think that this practise started during the Sukhotai period with coins, but I can't remember that far back!

Me too. The first time was in a gogo bar in Phuket...I forget the name. That was in 1996, my first trip there. I can't pretend that the custom was still common when I retired from the scene twenty years ago, at least I don't recall it occurring more than a couple of times in Pattaya.

From what I've read on this site, the guys would expect 1000 bht notes now! Back in the day, many of them were often not far from the breadline and so a a few hundred baht would have been very welcome. 

[Patanawet]

14 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

Sorry but it's nonsense to state that some bloke from Texas started the Thai practise of giving out money garlands and it was only ten years ago. I can remember seeing this happening in Thailand some 40 years ago. AI seemed to think that this practise started during the Sukhotai period with coins, but I can't remember that far back!

Yes indeed.  I know it from at least 25+ years ago and not only gay bars, girly bars (not from experience) and Issan huge straight bars (from experience).
Ao, as KLG says "nonsense".

[jimmie50]

7 hours ago, Londoner said:

the guys would expect 1000 bht notes now!

OMG!  And I just read in a post on here about someone who gave out four of these garlands in one night at a club!!!  That could certainly get expensive in a hurry.  Think I would rather tip the individual to join me for a drink, then pay the off fee and tip the young man directly (see...I didn't use the word 'boy'...lol) than to present the garlands.  How many 1000 notes are on one garland?  

[vinapu]

15 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

OMG!  And I just read in a post on here about someone who gave out four of these garlands in one night at a club!!!  That could certainly get expensive in a hurry.  Think I would rather tip the individual to join me for a drink, then pay the off fee and tip the young man directly (see...I didn't use the word 'boy'...lol) than to present the garlands.  How many 1000 notes are on one garland?  

I was  me reporting from Monlight and I'm comfirming it. Obviously that guy and  he was farang was in need to show off big time as that the main reason for garland presentation. Garlands at Moonlight don't have notes stapled together but rather 1000 baht written on them. You pay 1000 baht for garland, boy gets 800. That's information I got from both mamasan and boys on different occasion. 

 I agree that is stupid and waste money but still as we see  has its takers. Another then showing off reason for exercise may be to elevate status of boy we like and give I'm "face". I'm privy  to situation when it was actually suggested by the boy who even helped to staple those notes tgether for himself.  

It's speculation on my part but I wouldn't be surprised if actually bar collude with  trusted boys and customers and provides those garlands for free, just to create buying  momentum among customers

"if he could do it, why not me?" type

[srvhakko]

I think there is no limit to this money garland craze, there are even 2000, 5000 and even 10000 baht ones available in Jupiter Bar.

[jason1975]

The garlands at Freshboys are 100 baht notes stapled together by the waiters. I have given guys garlands in the past and they appreciate it. They get to keep the full 1000 baht. No need to give bar a cut. But they have to remove the staples themselves!

[ggobkk]

I keep intending to post about my August visits to Bangkok but my intentions don't turn into actions.  I'll make an attempt to do better.  During my first week, I went with a Malaysian from Good Boys to Moonlight.  We arrived 30 minutes before the show time to find all of the "stars" sabe Babe seated outside greeting the punters.  I have no idea if this is new, only for that night, or a continuing practice.  Babe was inside with his date (female).  Turns out it was Babe's birthday.  We were seated next them.  Babe went backstage to prepe for the show.  The mamsans and waiters went into overdrive to have the customers (maybe 20 of us) buy the 1000THB garlands.  Babe recieved 4 as the birthday boy.  I went back two weeks later and no garlands were purchased.