Bangkok, 5 December 2021 (TDI): Thailand is celebrating its National Day, today. December 5 is a very special day in the Kingdom of Thailand as well as for the Thais around the world.

Thai National Day

The day commemorates the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the father of the current Thai monarch. It is also considered Father’s Day of Thailand. At the state level, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai, along with executives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the ceremony to pay homage on the occasion of the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Congratulatory Messages

Congratulatory messages from across the world poured in on the occasion to congratulate Thailand on its National Day. The official Twitter handle of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) congratulated the country and expressed best wishes, as well.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey also shared a congratulatory message on the National Day of Thailand. The Ministry expressed that the two counties will continue to collaborate and enhance close relations.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was also known as Rama IX. He was the longest-reigning monarch of Thailand and he ruled the country from 1946 to 2016. Although he was a constitutional monarch, he made many key decisions in the political sphere of the country that changed the fate of Thailand and facilitated its transition to democracy.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Under the rule of King Bhumibol, Thailand encountered an impressive transformation from a backward state to an upper-middle-income state. As a tribute to the King, the country also celebrates World Soil Day with the aim to promote global awareness of the significance of healthy soil. Healthy soil is very vital for climate change alleviation as well as sustainable food security.

Since 1960, Thailand has been celebrating its National Day on the birthday of its monarch. The day is a nationwide holiday in the country and is celebrated with fanfare. National flags are displayed on buildings across the country. Buntings and portraits adorn the homes on the day. The streets around the Grand Palace area of Bangkok are decorated with thousands of marigold flowers.

There are a lot of temples and monasteries in the country

The King was born on a Monday and in Thailand the color for Monday is yellow. Therefore yellow is the predominant color of the celebrations and that is the reason that the marigold flower is chosen as adornment on the festive occasion. Displays of celebratory fireworks are also organized throughout the country to celebrate the occasion.

Geography

Thailand is situated in the heart of mainland Southeast Asia. It has diverse ecosystems owing to its location within the tropics. The diverse ecosystems include a broad plateau in the northeast, the hilly forested region on the north, rugged coasts adjacent to the southern peninsula, and fertile rice fields in the central plains.

Thailand has the same land area as France or Spain and it consists of two large geographic sections: a bigger main section in the north and a smaller southern peninsula. It shares contiguity with Myanmar (Burma) on the west, Cambodia on the southeast, Laos on the north and east, and the Gulf of Thailand on the south.

Map of Thailand
Climate

The climate of the country is hot and humid and also experiences monsoon. Rainfall reaches a maximum level in the month of September. During the winter months, the country experiences cool and relatively dry air that generates cooler temperatures for the country. In the months of March and April, stagnant air produces a hot-and-dry inter-monsoonal period.

People and Ethnicities
Thailand
Thai girls dressed in traditional Thai dresses

The contemporary political borders of the country were solidified by the end of the 19th century as well as the first part of the 20th. Thailand has people of diverse linguistic, cultural, and religious backdrops. A large majority of the citizens of Thailand are descendants of the orators of Tai languages.

However, a large number of non-Tai people also call Thailand home. Aside from them, the largest indigenous minority speaks Malay. Other minorities include groups who speak Khmer, Mon, and other Mon-Khmer languages of the Austroasiatic families.

Languages

There are four major language families spoken in Thailand; Tai, Mon-Khmer, Austronesian, and Sino-Tibetan. Moreover, English is also widely spoken in Thailand for official and many commercial purposes. English is also taught in Thai schools.

Phuket, Thailand
Religion

The main religion of Thailand is Buddhism. Nevertheless, other religions are also found in the country. A minority of Muslims reside in the southern region of the country as well as in Bangkok. A small number of Christians are also part of the country.

Tourism

Thailand is a famous tourist spot because of its tropical beaches and its mesmerizing rural locations. Some of the main attractions of the country include Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh islands. The islands are 40 km away from Phuket and have pristine waters and some of the most beautiful views the country has to offer.