Have you received your company or uni's list of annual holidays for 2019? I bet some of you have strategically planned to use all your vacation days throughout the next year already. But have you ever counted holidays and special days in Thailand? Of course not, why would you do such a nerdy thing like that? But I have!
Dear readers, there are more than 70 holidays and observances in Thailand where we observe and celebrate many things. And I can’t help but feel that some days are pretty ironic. Shall we see if you agree with yours truly?
Loy Krathong: full moon night of the 12th Thai month
It makes complete sense that you ask for forgiveness from the river goddess for polluting her all year round by dumping beautifully decorated floats on her on one night. It’s like asking your mum to do a month’s worth of your laundry on Mother’s Day.
National Science Day: August 18
A screen grab from a 2015 video clip where a sinsae in white performs a ritual inside the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (now known as Ministry of Digital Economy and Society). Oh, what an aptly named ministry!
And this camera wai kru ritual. Since phone cameras are getting more and more advanced, shouldn’t we hold a blessing ceremony for our iPhones and Samsungs, too?
Thai Environment Day: December 4
You shop at supermarkets or convenience stores and cashiers automatically put your stuff in plastic bags when it’s supposed to be plastic bag-free day. Wait, does it mean free plastic bags with your purchases?
National Wildlife Protection Day: December 26
Black leopard, barking deer, wild kalij pheasant and bearcat ;_;
Constitution Day: December 10
Since 1932, Thailand has put 20 editions of the Constitution into use. It doesn’t bode well on the state of our democracy when you introduce a new edition of the supposedly highest law of the land as if it’s a dictionary.