Thai “Mother’s Day” Celebration

August 24th, 2009

Article By IPA Member: Guy Verstraeten
Guy594 Photography

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As other parts of the word celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, Thailand celebrates Mother’s Day yearly on the 12th of August. This seems strange but this date is the birthday of Queen Sirikit who’s been considered as the beloved mother of all Thai people. August 12 is observed as a national public holiday in Thailand and considered as one of the most important festivities in Thailand.

The Thai-Belgian community celebrated Mother’s day on the 23rd of August at the Wat Dhammapateep Temple in Mechelen, Belgium. The celebration is observed with Buddhist traditional ceremony. The program started with the welcoming of the Buddhists monks as well as the special guests, such as the Thai Ambassador to Belgium. To honor the “Three Jewels”, the chairman of the ceremony lighted the candles and the incense. He then led the worshipping of the Buddha and the petition for the “Five Requirements”. The Headmonk gave the “Five Requirements” while a group of five monks recited the “Holy Sutras”. Part of the ceremony is the food offering to the monks. Afterwards, the guests took part in the meal together with the monks. Naturally, exotic Thai specialities were served during the feast. There were stands where delicious Thai foods and other Thai products were sold. Traditional Thai folklore dances were rendered as part of the cultural entertainment. A lot of Thai nationals and Europeans attended the affair.

Another aspect of the Mother’s day celebration is to commemorate the birthday of Thailand’s beloved mother, Queen Sirikit. The chairman of the ceremony and the special guests honoured the queen and laid flowers on a big portrait of Queen Sirikit. Hymns were sung for Her Majesty as well. A child gave a symbolic speech, which showed her remorse for her disobedience, to honor all the mothers present in the ceremony. Children kneel before their mothers and offer them flowers. In Thailand, the mothers were honoured with garland of flowers, mostly jasmine.

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand

As mother of all Thai people, Queen Sirikit, is well-love and appreciated all over Thailand, no wonder Mother’s day is celebrated on her birthday. It was stated that originally, as designated by the Cabinet in 1950, Thailand observed April 15 as the National Mother’s Day. The celebration of National Mother’s Day was later discontinued for certain reason, until Her Majesty’s birthday was proposed by the National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand in 1976, to be designated as the new National Mother’s Day. The Cabinet approved the proposal and since then August 12 remained an official national public holiday celebrating National Mother’s Day and the Queen’s birthday.

Queen Sirikit was born in August 12, 1932 to a noble couple and she was named Mom Rajawongse Sirikit which means “Glory and Splendor of the Kittiyakara Family”. This name was given by her relative H.M. King Prajadipok (Rama VII).

As member of a privileged family she attended the Rajini school and later the St. Francis Xavier Convent School until she was 13 years old. Her father was a member of the Thai Diplomatic Corps which gave her the opportunity to travel abroad, mostly in Europe: England, France and Switzerland, in particular. It was in 1948 when Mom Rajawongse Sirikit followed her parents in Paris where her father served as an ambassador to France. She continued her studies in this city. At this time King Bhumibol who was studying in Switzerland took break from studying routines by visiting Paris. It was during one of these visits when he met her, to become his future wife and queen.

The romance between these royals begun when King Bhumibol had a car accident and was seriously injured that he was hospitalized in Lausanne, Switzerland. The King’s mother then asked the future Queen to visit him often. The special friendship and genuine compassion for the King blossomed into a serious love and committed Royal relationship.

With great and huge delight of the Thai nation, the engagement of King Bhumibol to Mom Rajawongse Sirikit was announced on July 19, 1949. The wedding which was presided over by then Queen Sri Savarindira was held in April 28, 1950 at the Srapathum Palace. A few days later on May 5, the coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol of Thailand took place and his wife, the Mom Rajawongse Sirikit was honored and elevated to be Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

The Royal couple has four children; three daughters and a son:
(Formerly HRH) Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak

As a writer, she has written a memoir of her trip in Europe and wrote some songs. The songs she composed were: Chao Chom Kwan, Thas Ther, Sai Yud and Nang Yam. One of her cultural achievements was her initiative in the making of the Thai movie “The Legend of Suriyothai”, one of the most grandious and expensive Thai movies ever made. The Queen is also active of course in promoting Thai culture and history.

Queen Sirikit has been since their wedding day devoted to the King as well as to the Thai people. She has been a great source of encouragement and inspiration to them. Her dedication to her people led her to establish a lot of charitable institutions and organizations, which are mostly named after her, to help the underprivileged. As appreciation of her efforts, integrity and dedication she gained numerous outstanding awards and honors.

Aside being Her Majesty Queen Regent Sirikit, she has also several ranks namely: Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force. The queen holds ceremonial supreme power, after her husband who ranks as the Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, among the Royal Thai Army.

Thailand is blessed with this wonderful, loving, caring, dedicated and exceptionally talented Queen, no wonder the Thai people love her in return and recognize her as their special mother, honoring her and celebrating her birthday as National Mother’s Day.