King Bhumibol’s Birthday
King Bhumibol’s Birthday is a public holiday observed on December 5 that honors the birthday of the late King of Thailand. King Bhumibol was one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Thailand’s history, reigning from June 1946 through October 2016.
Thailand (National holiday)This holiday is when people display the flags and decorations of the late King, and the streets are adorned with marigolds. It is also a day when other festivities occur, most notably the fireworks display that concludes the holiday. Because it is a public holiday, most banks and government offices are closed on this day.
The History of King Bhumibol’s Birthday
For over 70 years, King Bhumibol reigned in Thailand. His reign stretched from June 9, 1946, until his death on October 13, 2016. His 70 years as Thailand’s King is the longest reign of any monarch in the country. He was born on December 5, 1927, so this date was chosen for the holiday commemorating his life and reign.
Facts About Thailand
Thailand is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture, so we naturally wanted to find out some facts about it to share with everyone. Below are the facts we’ve learned about this country, which we will now share before moving on with this holiday article.
- Thailand is home to the world’s smallest mammal: Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat.
- Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand.
- Thailand has approximately 35,000 temples.
- There are 5,000 elephants in Thailand. A century ago, there were 100,000 of them.
Observing King Bhumibol’s Birthday
Since the king was born on a Monday, and yellow is the color that represents Mondays in Thailand, many marigold and gold-themed decorations are used on this holiday. The flag of Thailand is also hoisted across the country on this day, and people use decorations featuring the likeness of King Bhumibol.
Thailand (National holiday)
