2027 Thai Mother's Day

Thai Mother's Day on August 12 marks the birthday of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother and widow of King Bhumibol, and has been a public holiday since 1976. Children give their mothers garlands or bouquets of white jasmine, a symbol of purity and enduring love, and schools hold ceremonies in the days before at which pupils kneel before their mothers to show gratitude. Government buildings, streets and homes are decorated with portraits of the Queen Mother, blue flags and lights — light blue is the colour associated with Friday, the day of her birth — and candle-lighting ceremonies and alms-giving to monks are held, with Bangkok's Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace area the focus of official events. Restaurants offer Mother's Day set menus and are fully booked for dinner. When August 12 falls on a weekend a substitute holiday is given on the following Monday, and the long weekend is popular for family trips. This countdown ticks to midnight Bangkok time on August 12.