Thai Mothers Day

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was born on Friday, August 12,1932, as the eldest daughter of His Highness Prince Chandaburi Suranath and Mon Lung Bua Kitiyakara. Her Majesty was born with the royal title of Mon Rajawongse and Her name "Sirikit", which means "Glory to the Kitiyakara Family", was given her by His Majesty Fing Prajadhipok, King Rama VII. At the end of the Second World War, her father was appointed as Thailand’s minister to France and Denmark and Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Accompanying her father she continued her education in Europe where she met His Majesty King Bhumibol.

Their Majesties were engaged on July 19, 1949 and in March of the following year, His Majesty, accompanied by Mom Rajawongse Sirikit and their families, returned to Thailand for the Cremation Ceremony of His majesty King Ananda Mahidol, Rama VIII. The Royal wedding took place on Friday, April 28,1950 at Sra Pathum Palace. On May 5 of the same year there followed the Coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol.

The Queen is regarded as the mother of all Thai people and for this reason her birthday is celebrated as Mother's Day. At schools students take part in a special ceremony to honor Her Majesty the Queen. The school principal first pays homage to a portrait of Her Majesty. Then the students present the teachers, representing all mothers, with flowers, offering respectful obeisance.

In the home the grandmother, mother and elder women of the family are honored by the younger generations. The youth will offer flowers and prostrate at their feet at which time the elder women will lay their hand on the youths head in a gesture of blessing.

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Mothers Day at Wat Florida Dhammaram

• Offer alms to the monks: 10:00 a.m.
• Dhammadesanaa (Sermon): 1:00 p.m.
• Mothers Day Ceremony: 2:00 p.m.