Get to know Family Day

     The 14th of April of every year is designated as "Family Day," to promote love, warmth, and happiness in the family. This is because, in the past, Thai people lived together as extended families, consisting of parents, siblings, and other relatives, such as grandparents, all living in the same area. The size of the house depended on the number of people. During the holiday season, siblings would help each other cook food for merit-making at a temple near their home. Any leftover food would be shared with neighbors.

     However, with the changing lifestyle of families today, family members have left their hometowns and gone to work in other provinces or cities. Therefore, on 31 October 1989, General Chatchai Choonhavan's government decided to make 14 April "Family Day," which coincides with the Songkran holiday. This provides an opportunity for relatives to come together and make merit for their ancestors, pour water over the hands of elders, and seek blessings, in keeping with Thai traditions that have been practiced for a long time. This is because most family members have the opportunity to meet one another during this time, since it is a long holiday period.