Father's Day.

Father's Day!

5 December is one of the most important days in Thailand.

It's Father's Day (วันพ่อแห่งชาติ "wan phâw hàeng châat"). 

The reason why we picked this day is because it's the birthday of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).

One phrase you will hear on Father's Day is ทรงพระเจริญ (Song phrá Jà-roen), which means "Long live the King".

On Father's Day, Thai schoolchildren invite their fathers to school and have a ceremony to wai (ไหว้ means "to pay respect") their fathers and offer flower garlands. 

People will decorate their homes and shops with the Thai flags and display pictures of the King. And many people wear yellow because it the color of Monday, which is the day of the week that the King was born on.

In the evening, people will gather in a public space such as Sanam Luang in Bangkok to light candles to honor the King and say ทรงพระเจริญ 3 times. There will also be other events such as outdoor concerts and performances.

 

Loi Krathong Festival

Loi Krathong Festival  (ลอยกระทง)

Loi Krathong is a Thai tradition for people to show respect to the water that we use in everyday life.

Loi "ลอย" is a verb meaning "to float"

Krathong "กระทง" is a floating bowl made from banana leaves

Loi Krathong is on the full moon night in November. In the evening of Loi Krathong day, people go to the river and float a krathong. A krathong contains candles, incense, flowers and sometimes money as an offering to the river goddess (Phra Mae Khong Ka) who is named after the Ganges River in India. This shows that Loi Krathong festival has some possible origin from India.

People decorate their doorways with candles, flowers, and lanterns. Children play with firecrackers. Here in the northern part of Thailand, people release floating lanterns into the night sky.

Here is a video of the Loi Krathong song. You can practice following the words. It's not too difficult. The general meaning of the words in English is:

On the full-moon of the 12th month, the water fills the the riverbanks.
All us, men and women, have real fun on Loy Krathong Day.
Float, float the krathong
Float, float the krathong
After floating the krathong, I invite you darling to come out to dance.
Dance on Loi Krathong Day
Dance on Loi Krathong Day
The merit we make will will give us happiness.
The merit we make will will give us happiness.

Mother's Day in Thailand

Mother's Day - August 12

สุขสันต์วันแม่ ค่ะ "Happy Mother's day kâ"

On Mother's Day, most Thai people do something special to show their gratitude and 
appreciation to their mother. August 12 is celebrated as Mother's Day in Thailand because it is the birthday of her Majesty Queen Sirikit. Thai people think of the Queen as the mother of the whole country, so they honor they Queen on the same day that they honor their own mother. 

Here are some useful words for Mother's day:

สุขสันต์ Sùk-sǎn = Happy
วัน Wan = Day
แม่ Mâae = Mother

สุขสันต์วันแม่ 

Sùk-sǎn Wan-Mâae= "Happy Mother's Day"