This holiday marks the birthday of the current queen of Thailand, Queen Sirikit.
Mother’s Day was first celebrated in Thailand in April 1950 in a similar fashion to the growing international celebration.
In 1976, the custom of Mother’s Day was changed to 12 August to commemorate the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
Across Thailand, buildings are decorated to honour their queen, with the most splendid are in Bangkok, where many buildings and streets are festooned with coloured lights, flowers and portraits of the queen.