When Father’s Day is usually on the Third Sunday of June, Thailand celebrates Father’s Day on the fifth of December. This day is the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and it is one of the many public holidays. Until the King’s passing, aged 88 on 13 October 2016, this holiday has been celebrated as the King’s Birthday, but it is being marked as Father’s Day after his passing.
King Bhumibol, born on December 5th, 1927 in Massachusetts, United States, was widely revered by people across Thailand. He was the symbolic father of Thailand, which is why the 5th of December is known as Father’s Day, nationwide. This is the same with Mother’s Day. This holiday falls on August 12 and is the birthday of Queen Sirikit. Thai people pay respect to their father and grandfather, by offering them a canna flower. Similar to a lily and known in Thai as Dok Phuttha Raksa.
Celebrations in and around Bangkok
Around Thailand, this day has been marked by celebrations and candlelit ceremonies, both in the form of large-scale organized events and small gatherings of groups or individuals in local communities. Before his death, a great number of Thais would get onto the streets to honor the King, often camping out the night before to get a good spot and a chance to see the King up-close when he made his appearance and gave a speech. The usual ‘dress code’ was yellow, considered by many Thais to represent Monday, the day of the King’s birth.
This is based on an astrological rule determined by Hindu mythology. This holds that yellow is the color of the god that protects that day. Many patriotic Thais have been seen wearing yellow at the start of each week, the Queen’s birthday was on a Friday, so her traditional color is light blue. Thais will often wear light blue clothing on a Friday, around the time of the celebration of the Queen’s birthday.
Usually it is likely to see that there is a yearly continuation of the previous traditions of using elaborate light displays to decorate royally prestigious areas in Bangkok, around Ratchadamnoem Avenue in Phra Nakhon and on the roads close to the Grand Palace. On the location of King Bhumibol’s cremation, Sanam Luang, there will be traditional ceremonies on the royal ceremonial ground.
It is also expected that there will be prominent celebrations in Hua Hin, where he spends most of his time at the Klai Kangwon Palace, which played host to the most high-profile royal birthday celebrations, each year.
