12 August: Queen Sirikit's birthday and Mother's Day in Thailand

Every 12 August, Thailand celebrates Mother's Day, which was established on the birthday of Queen Mother Sirikit, the wife of the late King Rama IX.

The creation of Mother's Day in Thailand

Mother's Day, like Father's Day, was created during the reign of the late King Rama IXfather of the current King Rama X.

So to pay tribute to the king, the father of the nation, 5 December, the day of his birth, was declared Father's Day.

Similarly, Queen Sirikit is considered the mother of the nation and thus her birthday on 12 August is celebrated as the national Mother's Day.

Queen Sirikit was born on 12 August 1932.

See : Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand

A day in blue

Every 12 August, the streets of Thailand are decorated with blue flags and many people in the Land of Smiles wear their blue polo shirts, as blue is the colour of Friday, the Queen's birthday.

See : In Thailand there is a colour for each day of the week

Queen Sirikit's flag

12 August: Queen Sirikit's birthday

The day is a public holiday, with schools, businesses, government offices and most banks closed - although many retail shops and restaurants remain open as usual.

To mark the occasion, many Thai Buddhists will be honoring their local temples, and there will be high-profile events at famous temples in Bangkok's historic old town, centered mostly around Ratchadamnoen Avenue near Khao San Road.

Portraits of the Queen, along with her royal blue flag, are displayed throughout Thailand at this time of year.

Mother's Day in Thailand

Thais pay tribute to their mothers by giving them gifts - jasmine garlands, food and jewellery - and by spending the holiday with their mothers and other loved ones.

Most schools also hold special ceremonies a few days before Mother's Day for children to honour their mothers.

It's a time for family togetherness, and many restaurants offer specials for families, where mums dine for free.

The MRT (Bangkok underground railway) also often allows mothers to travel free for the day.

Jasmine: Mother's Day flower

The whiteness of the jasmine flower recalls the purity of a mother's love for her child, the intensity of the fragrance illustrates its strength, and the fact that the flower blooms all year round suggests the eternity of this love.

History of Mother's Day in Thailand

The Mother's Day first appeared in Thailand on 10 March 1943.

It was introduced by the Minister of Public Health, who was inspired by Mother's Day in the United States.

But the context of the Second World War made it difficult for the people to adopt this new festival, which was immediately forgotten.

In 1950, the Thai government again sought to promote Mother's Day and placed it on the calendar on 15 April.

But again, this is a failure.

It was finally in 1976 that the National Welfare Council of Thailand, under the patronage of the Royal Palace, declared on 12 August, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday, as a day for all mothers.

The following year, the Ministry of Education published a book entitled "The Mother of All Thais", showing that Queen Sirikit acts as the mother of the Thai people.

The book reviews the Queen's efforts to help the Thai people, particularly in the areas of education and health, alongside her maternal love and tenderness for her own children.

Queen Sirikit is also committed to the preservation of Thai arts and culture in order to cultivate the national pride of her subjects.

Closing of bars and karaoke

On Mother's Day, most bars and karaoke bars in the country are closed, but this is not a compulsory measure.

Some bars remain open, but customers are asked not to display their alcohol consumption by hiding the bottles, as on some important days in the Buddhist calendar.

See : Important dates for public holidays in Thailand

Source: Photo of Queen Sirikit in front of an administration: Xufanc