-->
Today, December 5th, is Thailand’s Fathers’ Day.
In America, Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day are randomly assigned Sundays on the
Calendar. Here in Thailand, on the other hand, much more significance is
assigned to these holidays; Mothers’ Day is the Queen’s birthday, and Fathers’
Day is the birthday of His Majesty, King Rama IX. Not only is today a
celebration of one’s own father, but also a celebration in honor of the King.
The Thais, without exception, love their King. Pictures of the
King are proudly on display everywhere you look, pictures adorn walls in nearly
every home and restaurant, clocks and calendars feature the likeness of His
Majesty, and in every Thai city billboard-size pictures stand at street
corners. While we Americans have money featuring a variety of past U.S.
presidents, King Rama IX is on every Thai coin and bill. Once a week, many
people nationwide wear yellow, pink or purple to honor the King (although,
following the red shirt-yellow shirt debacle, yellow tends not to be the color
of choice). The Thai monarchy is incredibly revered and beloved, and it shows.
The love of the Thais for their King is not only genuine,
but also well deserved. Reigning since 1946, King Rama IX is the world’s
longest reigning monarch. Born in Massachusetts, educated in America and
Switzerland, and an accomplished jazz musician to boot, the King has done much
good for the people of Thailand. No matter what the political situation in Thailand, the general Thai populace is united by their love of the King.
Despite the fact that the Thai monarchy is
supposed to be divorced from politics, the opinion of the King holds heavy
sway; he has authorized numerous coups, overseen umpteen constitutions, and
dozens of changes of Prime Minister. In the early 90s, he oversaw the change to
democracy. He changed the country to what he dubbed a “sufficiency economy” enabling
the Thais to develop a self-sufficient system, better agricultural practices,
and more environmentally friendly methods. Because of King Rama IX, Thailand is
much better situated to become a legitimate first world country.
It is no big surprise that Fathers’ Day is a pretty big deal
in Thailand. The Friday before Fathers’ Day was filled with ceremonies, songs,
and assemblies for the students; today, parades, participants all in pink,
marched along the streets; fireworks filled the night sky; and somewhere in
town a ceremony took place, a candlelight vigil of sorts, with songs written by
the King himself, as well as prayers and more fireworks.
