Thailand Holidays Labor Day in Thailand A Time For Dance And Music
Author: Josh@asiabackpackers.com
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Thailand Holidays Labor Day. While the world may use this day for political flag waving, here in Thailand it is a time of dance, music and an elephant or two.
Thailand Holidays Labor Day
When: 1st May Annually
Where: Across the Kingdom
May Day, Labor Day, or International Workers’ Day, is a public holiday in many countries throughout the worldwide; 80 in total. (The United States, celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday of September).
Usually occurring around May 1st, the date varies across countries and is traditionally associated the start of spring in the northern hemisphere, it was much later in 1886 that the day was associated with a worldwide call for an 8-hour working day, as well as the celebration of workers.
Thailand Holidays Labor Day
Labor Day in Thailand
Here in Thailand it is a public holiday taken by private companies and banks, though not usually by all government offices and never by the shops or malls. Public sector workers have two further holidays in May; 5th May – Thailand’s Coronation Day and the ancient Royal Ploughing Ceremony in mid May, with the actual date determined by the king’s own Brahmin astrologers. These two events in turn aren’t normally, celebrated by the private or banking sector.
While the Kingdom unfortunately, (dependent on how you feel about trade unions), has only 1.6 percent of its workers are members of a Trade Union, out of a work force of 37 million. (Ministry of Labour 2015).
The Celebrations
That said this day does not go unrecognized and is celebrated across the country in most of the larger cities. The day time festivities normally consist of parades featuring marching bands, sometimes lead by magnificently dress elephants, along with its fare share of beautiful Thai women, dressed in traditional local attire. The parades will also include local businesses and state agencies mingled with numerous other percussion bands playing traditional lively music, associated with the local culture.
Thailand Holidays Labor Day
Once the cacophony of sound and colour has finished the real fun can begin, with all manner of events, from traditional cultural shows, to cooking competitions and traditional Thai fun fairs, plus live music concerts that go onto late in the night.
What-ever side of the political spectrum you stand and possibly due, to the lack of open and purely political affiliation, of the majority of Thai people that attend these events, the day is normally one of blazing colour, ear shattering noise and above all simple fun.
Where is this Day also celebrated
States and dependencies coloured by observance of International Workers’ Day or a different variant of May Day or Labour Day:
Thailand Holidays Labor Day
Labor holiday on or near 1 May
Another public holiday on 1 May, such as May Day
No public holiday on 1 May, but Labour Day on a different date
No public holiday on 1 May and no Labour Day.
Picture and Key curtsy of Wiki
Thailand Holidays Labor Day
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