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Chulalongkorn Day

    Chulalongkorn Day (Thai: วันปิยมหาราช) is observed in Thailand on 23 October. It focuses on King Chulalongkorn the Great, King Rama V and is listed in Thailand’s holiday calendar as a royal memorial day.1,2

    History

    The day honors King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, whose reign is closely associated with modernization and reform in Thailand.2 The holiday links the date with Thailand’s public memory and with royal, national or governmental institutions.1,2

    The holiday also shows how public holidays in Thailand often combine dynastic history with state ceremony. The official English names are useful for calendars, but the Thai names and royal titles carry much of the cultural meaning and are often longer than their English equivalents.1,2

    Customs

    Observances may include official ceremonies, merit-making, tribute-paying activities, exhibitions or public service events. The exact programme depends on the character of the holiday and on announcements by state or royal institutions for the relevant year.2

    Outside formal ceremonies, the day may be visible through flags, portraits, public lighting, exhibitions, charitable activities or adjusted opening hours at royal and government sites. The scale of these activities can vary considerably by year, especially when an anniversary or major royal occasion is being marked.2

    Good to know

    For visitors, the most practical point is that royal and government sites may change opening hours around ceremonial days. The holiday can also affect traffic near ceremonial locations in Bangkok and provincial capitals, so current local announcements are more useful than assuming the same programme every year.2

    Legal status

    Thailand’s holiday calendar lists the day as a royal memorial day. Where the date falls on a weekend, only the substitute holidays shown in the site calendar are moved to the following Monday.1

    Sources

    1. List of public holidays in Thailand (ASEAN-Japan Centre)
    2. Royal Visit to Sweden Highlights Longstanding Ties between Thailand and Sweden (Public Relations Department, Royal Thai Government)