June 26th of every year is celebrated in Thailand as Sunthorn Phu day (วันสุทรภู่). Sunthorn Phu is Thailand’s best-known royal poet in Rattanakosin era (สมัยรัตนโกสินทร์) in the reign of King Rama II. Every Thai student has to learn his poem at school. On Sunthorn Phu day, the students take part in writing competitions and listen to his poems. I still remember … [Read more...] about Sunthorn Phu Day (วันสุนทรภู่)
Important Dates
Thai National Labor Day
Thai National Labor Day in Thai language is วันแรงงานแห่งชาติ /wan raeng ngaan hàeng châad/. The Thai government declared May 1 as National Labor Day in 1935 (30 เมษายน 2499) . It is a public holiday, and as such government businesses and banks will be closed. Employees are given a day off to celebrate this occasion. Learn Thai with Mod's key … [Read more...] about Thai National Labor Day
Chakri Day วันจักรี
Eeach year the April 6th marks the Chakri Memorial Day celebration in Thailand. This day commemorates the founding of the present Thailand dynasty, House of Chakri (ราชวงศ์จักรี) in 1782. Chakri dynasty was founded by its first king, Phra BuddhaYodfa Chulaloke or King Rama I. (พระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลกมหาราช) History Prior to the establishment of Chakri Dynasty, … [Read more...] about Chakri Day วันจักรี
Thailand Madly in Love with Valentine’s Day
Sawatdii ka, Love is in the air, Valentine's day is coming. Valentine's Day is an excuse for shopping, eating out, gimmicks and, of course, getting married. A large number of couples are expected to queue to register their marriages at municipal offices in Bangkok's district of Bang Rak (บางรัก), which translates as the "love district," in a years-old practice. Bang Rak … [Read more...] about Thailand Madly in Love with Valentine’s Day
วันอาสาฬหบูชา(Asalha Bucha Day)
Asalha Bucha Day [วันอาสาฬหบูชา: wan aa-săan-hà buu-chaa] marks the day when the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon known as “Dhammachakkappavattanasutta” (ธัมมจักกัปปวัตนสูตร) which he preached to five ascetics at Benares in India over 2,500 years ago, as result all of them attained enlightenment and was ordained by the Buddha as the first ever Buddhist … [Read more...] about วันอาสาฬหบูชา(Asalha Bucha Day)
Learn Thai from Visakha Bucha Day
Sawatdee ka, Today is one of the most important day for Buddhist people. It is Visakha Bucha Day (วันวิสาขบูชา) which marks the three important incidents in the life of Lord Buddha(พระพุทธเจ้า) on the same day. Read more about it here: This year is very special since it is the 2,600th anniversary of Lord Buddha achieving enlightenment. Thai people call today "พุทธชยันตี" … [Read more...] about Learn Thai from Visakha Bucha Day
National Teacher’s Day
Teacher's day (วันครู Wan Kruu) is celebrated every year on January 16th in Thailand, it is also a school holiday. It is the day that teachers gather together to remember their first teachers. Thai people believe that any field of work will have a teacher such as actors, dramatist, magician, astrologist and even boxers. Therefore, we need to have a Wai Kru ceremony to … [Read more...] about National Teacher’s Day
Loy Kratong Festival
Sawatdee ka, Every year the Loy Kratong Festival falls on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, this year the festival falls on the 10th of November.The festival originally started from the Sukhothai period a symbolic tradition, as one floats away their Kratong at the same time it releases bad luck or vibes, as well as expressed apologies to the River Goddess Khong … [Read more...] about Loy Kratong Festival
King Chulalongkorn’s Day
Sawatdee ka, Today is one of most important days for Thai people. On 23rd of October of every year is "Chulalongkorn Day" or "Piyamaharaj Day" วันปิยมหาราช It is the day that our King Chulalongkorn, or King Rama V, passed away. He is considered one of the greatest kings of Thailand. The most important thing he did was abolish slavery (เลิกทาส). King Chulalongkorn (Pra … [Read more...] about King Chulalongkorn’s Day
Elephant Polo in Thailand
Elephant Polo: The Biggest, Weirdest, Slowest, and Most Expensive Game in Thailand Yes, before you ask, elephant polo is played on the back of an elephant. The price tags associated with elephant polo are massive as the elephants themselves. The only thing small about elephant polo is the circuit on which it is played. It includes only three countries, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and … [Read more...] about Elephant Polo in Thailand
Speak like a Thai – Polite particle ‘jâ’
Sawatdii kâ, Thai language has a lot of polite particles. Today I would like to talk about the polite particle "jâ" (falling tone) จ้ะ. "jâ" used by adult male&femail speakers at the end of a statement when speaking to children and people of inferior status; between males and females denotes anything from easy familiarity to 'sweet talk'; between females signals 'best … [Read more...] about Speak like a Thai – Polite particle ‘jâ’
Chinese New Year in Thailand
Sawatdii ka, One of the important festivals in Thailand is coming up soon, Chinese New Year. (Wan trut jiin) วันตรุษจีน Every year, many people in Thailand with Chinese ancestors, celebrate the Chinese New Year with elaborate ceremonies. This year which is the year of the rabbit starts on February 3, 2011. It is the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to … [Read more...] about Chinese New Year in Thailand
VIDEO: Bangkok Countdown
It is 31st of December in Thailand today and it is New Year Eve and since I live in Bangkok I would like to write about Bangkok New Year Eve a little bit. The biggest of countdown event in Bangkok happens in front of CentralWorld mall, The largest lifestyle shopping destination in Bangkok on Ratchaprasong road. There are several hundred thousand revellers attend … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Bangkok Countdown