The current date of Mother’s Day in Thailand is August 12, held each year. However, the history of Mother’s Day in Thailand has seen a number of dates and off-and-on periods of celebration.
Thailand’s first Mother’s Day was held April 10, 1943. Due to the upheaval of World War II, Mother’s Day did not become a formally established, recurring holiday until 1950 when it began to be celebrated again, this time on April 15. Mother’s Day celebrations continued on this date for a number of years – though with changing governments it eventually faded away again. The holiday made a one-year comeback on October 4, 1972 (this time sponsored by a teacher’s association) but did not take yet take root. Finally, Mother’s Day was established in its current form in co-celebration with the Queen’s birthday in 1976. Since then it has become an important national holiday, celebrated to much fanfare year after year.
While the official date of Mother’s Day in Thailand is August 12, in many years the government also deems one more official day of holiday. Specifically, if August 12 falls on a weekend, then Friday or Monday will be deemed an observance day, giving the country a 3-day weekend. Some people will even take the opportunity to request an additional day off so they can celebrate a 4-day holiday. (Thais love their holidays!)