This thesis is of three objectives: 1) to study the historical background of S'gaw Karen ethnic group in Chiang Rai province, 2) to explore the New Year tradition of S'gaw Karen ethnic group in Chiang Rai province and 3) to analyze the Buddhist doctrines that found in the New Year tradition of S'gaw Karen ethnic group in Chiang Rai province.

According to the God Creator, the S'gaw Karen believes that Ywa creates the world and man is born of the calves of God named Naw Lae Jor as the first human couple. As in the S'gaw Karen group, they were the eldest son and later extended to human beings by love until today. Karen's belief is influenced by the culture of the Chinese. Originally, the Karen believes in Animism, including both good and evil spirits. However, they believe in the good spirits, which give them the mental values.

Regarding the S'gaw’s New Year, it is the tradition called Ke Jue. It is to believe that in one year of all human, they live their lives with both suffering and happiness. Thus they should have been celebrated and held a ceremony for the prosperity and to eliminate the lamentation. The ceremony of the Pre- New Year will be scheduled in July – August and the New Year event will be held in February by the shaman and elder of the community. Especially the S'gaw women need to attend ceremonies in their own community. The New Year’s purposes are to eliminate all evils and sufferings and to welcome to what is auspicious in the coming New Year. Therefore, the expression of gratitude to the ancestors, unity, and traditions are still conserved and remained in the S'gaw community.

As regards the values of Buddhist doctrines, it is the fundamental values of mind or thought that externally expressed or ethical in practice. It is the relationship between personal ethics and the social ethics.

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