Yes, it's Christmas time in Bangkok and the shopping frenzy is in full force. Trees and lights started going up in mid-November…just like in America!
This tree is outside Terminal 21, a large shopping mall, and reaches higher than the sky train (the concrete structure behind the tree).
One day we went to Siam Paragon (another very large shopping mall), and on our way down the glass elevator, we saw a bunch of people wearing red, green, and brown shirts. Later we found out that those 852 students were setting a Guinness World Record for the largest human Christmas tree!
Who can resist a giant teddy bear at Christmas when it's 80ยบ outside?
The new year is on the horizon, but it's not going to be 2014 AD in Thailand. Here it's actually going to be 2557 BE! That is because the official calendar of Thailand follows the Thai Buddhist Era (BE).
Of course, with influence from the West, 2014 is also displayed as the coming new year in Bangkok. Whenever we write dates, we have to write slowly because it is different than back home. Instead of 12/16/13 (mm/dd/yy) it's 16/12/56 (dd/mm/yy) or 16/12/13. It's easier to just write Dec. 16, 2013!
We Ho! Ho! Hope you have a happy, chili holiday wherever you are!
Father's Day in Thailand (December 5th) is also the king's birthday. He is the world's longest reigning living monarch. He is also the only monarch ever to have been born in the United States!
King Bhumibol Adulyadej turns 86 years old this year.
We have been told that people in Thailand celebrate Father's Day by spending time with their fathers, sharing a meal, and sometimes giving gifts just like we do in America.
In Thailand, each day of the week has a color assigned to it. The color yellow has been designated for Monday and since the king was born on a Monday, yellow is his color. On the king's birthday, Thai people honor him by wearing his color or by wearing the color that symbolizes good health (pink).
The king also has his own flag which is yellow, of course.
In addition, the king has a special anthem called Sansoen Phra Barami, which means "Glorify his Prestige." It is often played at ceremonies, special events, performances, concerts, and even before every movie that is shown in a theater. Each time it is played, the audience stands through the entire anthem.
