Poy Sang Long The Poy Sang Long (Shan: ပွႆးသၢင်ႇလွင်း; lit.
"Festival [of the] Crystal Sons") is a rite of passage ceremony
among the Shan peoples, in Myanmar (also known as Burma) and in
neighbouring Northern Thailand, undergone by boys at some point
between seven and fourteen years of age. It consists of taking
novice monastic vows and participating in monastery life for a
period of time that can vary from a week to many months or more.
Usually, a large group of boys are ordained as novice monks at
the same time. It can also be observed in neighbouring Thailand,
where Shan immigrants have brought over the traditions from
Myanmar. The ceremony goes on for three days, as the boys
(dressed up like princes in imitation of the Lord Buddha, who
was himself a prince before setting out on the religious path)
spend the entire time being carried around on the shoulders of
their older male relatives. On the third day, they are ordained,
and enter the monastery for a period of at least one week, and
perhaps many years.