Thailand Father’s Day & National Day (December 5): King Bhumibol’s Birthday
On December 5, Thailand celebrates National Day and Father’s Day (Wan Pho Haeng Chat) together. The date is the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (King Rama IX), who reigned for 70 years and was revered as the “father of the nation”. Thais wear yellow, honour their own fathers and remember the king’s work for the country.
| Name | Thailand Father’s Day |
|---|---|
| When | Every year on December 5 |
| Next date | Saturday, December 5, 2026 · in 21 days |
| Type | Public Holidays |
| Observed in | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Topic | Family & RelationshipsPatriotic & History |
| First observed | 1980 |
| Public holiday? | Yes |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 5 every year |
| Honours | King Bhumibol Adulyadej (born December 5, 1927) |
| Reign | 1946–2016 — the longest in Thai history |
| Official names | National Day; Father’s Day; King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Commemoration Day |
| Colour of the day | Yellow (the colour of Monday, the day of the week he was born) |
| Father’s Day flower | Canna |
| Holiday type | Public holiday |
King Bhumibol: A Remarkable Life
King Bhumibol was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, while his father was studying medicine at Harvard. He came to the throne in 1946 at just 18. During his reign he became famous for thousands of Royal Projects in rural development, irrigation, crop substitution and soil conservation, and for his philosophy of the “Sufficiency Economy” — moderate, balanced and self-reliant living.
He was also an accomplished jazz saxophonist and composer, a sailor who won a gold medal at the 1967 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, and an inventor who held patents. He died on October 13, 2016.
Because King Bhumibol championed soil conservation, the United Nations chose his birthday, December 5, as World Soil Day.
👉 Same day: World Soil Day — December 5
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Born on December 5 in Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| 1946 | Accedes to the throne |
| 1950 | Coronation; marries Queen Sirikit |
| 1980 | December 5 becomes Thailand’s Father’s Day |
| 2006 | 60th anniversary of his reign |
| 2016 | Passes away on October 13 |
| 2017 | Royal cremation ceremony; December 5 continues as National Day and Father’s Day |
How Thais Celebrate
- Wearing yellow shirts and decorating buildings with the king’s portrait and yellow flags.
- Honouring fathers — children give their fathers a canna flower, cards and gifts, and families share a meal.
- Merit-making — offering food to monks early in the morning.
- Candle-lighting ceremonies in the evening at Sanam Luang in Bangkok and across the country.
- Volunteer and charity activities in the king’s memory, including tree planting and blood donation.
Father’s Day Around the World
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Thailand | December 5 |
| USA, UK, Canada, India and many others | Third Sunday of June |
| Germany | Ascension Day |
| Spain, Italy, Portugal | March 19 (St. Joseph’s Day) |
| Australia and New Zealand | First Sunday of September |
👉 Father’s Day hub: Father’s Day wishes, quotes and ideas
When is Thailand Father’s Day?
Thailand Father’s Day is observed every year on December 5. Here are the dates for the coming years:
| Year | Date | Day of the week | Countdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 5, 2026 | Saturday | in 21 days |
| 2027 | December 5, 2027 | Sunday | in 386 days |
| 2028 | December 5, 2028 | Tuesday | in 752 days |
| 2029 | December 5, 2029 | Wednesday | in 1117 days |
| 2030 | December 5, 2030 | Thursday | in 1482 days |
| 2031 | December 5, 2031 | Friday | in 1847 days |
FAQ
Thailand celebrates Father’s Day on December 5, which is also National Day.
It is the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, regarded as the father of the nation.
Yellow is the colour associated with Monday, the day of the week King Bhumibol was born.
Yes, it is a national public holiday.