Every year on 23rd October, Thais take a national holiday to commemorate the death of one of the most revered kings of the past; Chulalongkorn. Chulalongkorn was one of the most important figureheads in Thai history, and the day is taken to commemorate the day of his death.
Thailand Chulalongkorn Day History
When Chulalongkon’s father -who was on the throne at the time- died, Chulalongkon inhereted the title to the throne. He was only 15 when he took to the throne, and was thereafter known as Rama V – the fifth monarch of Siam (Thailand) to come from the house of Chakri.
During his long 42 year rule, Chulalongkorn brought some sweeping changes to Thailand in the 19th century. It was Chulalongkon who was responsible for incorporating western-style government into Thai politics. He also spent this time improving relations between Siam and the major western powers such as France, Britain, USA and Russia. His children also went to be educated in the west.
Chulalongkon also pushed for the abolition of slavery and other modernisation such as building a new railway, and establishing post / telegraph systems. Health and education were two other areas that he saw about improving. The King successfully adapted the country to cope with the rising threat of colonialism. By fostering good relations with other countries – particularly the bigger colonial powers – he was able to maintain Thailand’s independence throughout this difficult time.
His death on October 23, 1910 was a great loss to the entire nation as he was one of the most honored and beloved kings who were often called “Somdej Phra Piyamaharaj”.
Festival details
A number of cultral events and activities are performed during this national holiday. The king’s statue is often festooned with flowers on the day.Performances and merry-making dedicated to the king.
Promote your business with a customize calendar from Aglobalworld.com – ours is the only planner to include the holiday dates of over 200 countries. It’s also packed with interesting and useful information such as color maps, time zones and dialing codes.
