Cover
story: 25 Jan
/
Vol. 24 No. 20 |
|
The
30 Important Days of Thailand (Part II) |
(Continued
from the Vol. 24 No.19) |
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By
Rachawadi |
This article is provided by the Public
Relations Group of the Office of the National Culture
Commission, the Ministry of Culture. It is written mainly
to benefit the young Thais who may lack knowledge about
the significance of the many public holidays and commemoration
days of their country.  As
the information contained in it may be interested and
valuable to foreign tourists, we have it translated
into English to be published in Thaiways in two consecutive
issues (Vol.24 No.19 which dealt with important days
concerning monarchs of Thailand and religion and Vol.24
No.20 which will deal with important days of the nation
and those related to traditions). The complete version
of this story can be obtained from this website on the
previous issue (25 January 2008.) -- Ed.
Among the 365 days in a year, 30 are considered important
to Thailand because of their relations with the nation,
the religion, the monarch or the traditions. Of this
number, 16 have been declared public holidays, including
Magha Puja Day, Chakri Day and Songkran Day.
In order to commemorate the event, ceremonies or other
activities are held by the government, social groups
or public organs concerned on each important day, thus
to help the public to remember the past important event
with pride or to encourage them to follow the fine examples
in behaviour that have been handed down from generation
to generation.
Other Important Days of
the Nation
and Those Related to Traditions
18. *New Year's Day.
Before we Thais adopted the universal New Year's Day,
we had changed our New Year's Day three times. At first,
we fixed the first day of the first waning moon as our
New Year's Day. Then it was moved to the first day of
the fifth waxing moon, which roughly corresponded to
Songkran Day and was based on the system of identifying
the 12 years of a cycle with the names of different
animals and the abolition of the Thai Minor Era.
The joyous atmosphere
during the
New Year's Festival
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Later, in the reign of King Rama V, it was announced
that beginning in 1889, New Year's Day would be the
first of April in the Gregorian calendar. Lastly, in
1940, the Thai government changed its New Year's Day
to the first of January, as was the international practice,
on the grounds that the day had been fixed according
to the scientific calculation of astrology and that
it had been widely used for more than 2,000 year. Moreover,
it had no connections with any religious belief or the
politics of any country, but conformed to the tradition
of Thailand since ancient times to start a year in the
cold season.
19. National Children's Day.
It falls on the second Saturday of January. The designation
of a children's day is aimed to remind the children
of their own importance and at the same time to call
the attention of the public to the importance of the
children who are growing to become the future masters
of the nation and the essential human resources that
need our care and attention.
20. Teachers' Day. It falls on the
16th of January. Its designation is to remind society
of the importance of the teachers who make sacrifices
and strive to be virtuous for the benefit of the nation,
especially the cultivation of qualified personnel for
the future of the country.
H.R.H. Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn,
the Patroness of Thai Cultural Heritage
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21. Thai Heritage Conservation Day. Falling
on the 2nd of April, it is the birthday anniversary
of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn,
who is a model in the performance of her royal duties
concerning the conservation of national heritage in
various aspects, and who has been presented with the
titles of "Patroness of Thai Cultural Heritage"
and " The Most Ilustrious Artist". She is
indeed a sage in Thai Culture and has made many benefactions
to artistic and cultural work.
Splashing water onto
each other is
a joyful way to relieve the summer heat.
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22. *Songkran Day. This is the traditional
New Year's Day of Thailand, falling on the day the sun
enters the constellation of Aries, i.e. the 13th of
April, which is called Great Songkran Day and is observed
as National Old People's Day too.
The following day, the 14th of April, is called Nao
Day and is regarded as Family Day. And the third day
the 15th of April is called Thaloeng Sok Day which means
the day entering the New Year.
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23.
*Royal First Ploughing Day. Apart from holding
an ancient royal ceremony to bless agriculture, this
day is also regarded as Farmers' Day so as to remind
those who are engaged in farm work of the importance
of farming, and the general public of the great value
of rice and the food grains which sustain our life.
Royal First Ploughing
Day
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Above all, it helps us to remember the great grace
of His Majesty the King who has initiated many agricultural
projects to serve as models for his people, encouraging
them to have confidence in their occupation, and to
lead the country all along to stability and prosperity.
Sunthon Phu, honoured
by the UNESCO
as "A Classic Poet of the World"
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24. Sunthon Phu Day. Falling on the 26th of
June, it is the birthday anniversary of Sunthon Phu,
who is highly esteemed as the Poet Laureate of the early
Rattanakosin period and a prolific writer. In 1986,
the poet was honoured by the UNESCO as "A Classic
Poet of the World" because he was a person who
had produced outstanding world-class works of culture.
25. National Thai Language Day.
It falls on the 29th of July, being the anniversary
of His Majesty the King's attendance at a discussion
with a number of experts in the Thai language from
the Thai Language Group of the Faculty of Arts. Chulalongkorn
University, about the usage of some Thai words, on
29 July 1962. This showed His Majesty's talent and
interest in the Thai language and his deep concern
about the matter.
H.M.Queen Sirikit and
a royal child of hers.
(The Queen's Birthday)
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26. *The Queen's Birthday and National Mother's
Day. It falls on the 12th of August, being
the birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit,
who is likened to the Mother of the Nation who has
taken care of the Welfare of the people like her own
children and who has carried out various royal duties,
big and small, for the benefit of the public side
by side with His Majesty the King all the time, especially
in the creation of supplementary occupations in arts
and crafts for rural women and in the promotion of
Thai art and culture.
Buildings illuminated
to celebrate the
Queen's Birthday.
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27. Thai Museum Day. Falling on
the 19th of September, it is the anniversary of the
founding of the first People's Museum in 1814 at Sahathai
Samakhom Hall in the Grand Palace by order of King
Rama V.
H.R.H. Prince Mahidol,
Father of Modern Medicine of Thailand
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28. Mahidol Day. Falling on the
24th of September, it is the anniversary of the death
of Prince Mahidol, the father of the present King,
who had contributed to the development of modern medicine
in this country and so is honoured with the title
of Father of Modern Medicine of Thailand.
Loi Krathong
Day
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29. Loi Krathong Day. It falls on
the full-moon day of the 12th lunar month. Its celebration
is a tradition passing down from ancient times for
multiple purposes, such as floating bad luck away
and worshipping the Buddha. Nowadays, people popularly
observe this day to ask for the forgiveness and in
remembrance of the Goddess of Water who has benefited
mankind in many ways.
30. Sports Day. Falling on the 16th
of December, it is the anniversary of His Majesty
the King's winning the Gold Medal of the O.K. Dinghy
class of the sailing event in the 4th Southeastern
Asian Peninsular Games in 1967. The day is also observed
so that the youth will realise the importance of sports
in promoting our health in body and mind.
The above are the important days of Thailand in a
year. Although they are not all public holidays, they
are nevertheless the important days of the nation
that the young Thais should keep in mind as part of
their elementary knowledge.
*Public holidays
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