Pattaya Daily News

As the New Year 2010 approaches, people in all parts of the world wish one another happiness on this special occasion. Like people elsewhere, Thais celebrate the New Year festival each year with many joyous activities.

Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch said that the committee on the promotion of the traditional values of the new year had agreed to emphasize Thai ways, safety, and the Sufficiency Economy in the New Year celebrations 2010.

He explained that, in maintaining the style of traditional celebrations during this festive season, people should visit parents and relatives, especially the elderly, to show gratitude and respect. They should also conduct merit-making, practice Dhamma, exchange locally made gifts and greeting cards, clean their houses, and display the national flag within their households and offices.

The campaign for New Year celebrations in Thai ways also calls for refraining from consuming alcohol or other intoxicating drinks in order to reduce accidents and crime.

The Culture Minister said that emphasis should also be placed on a campaign to buy Thai products, handicrafts, and food to promote Thai creative businesses, in line with the Government’s “Creative Thailand” policy. The campaign would help add value to Thai goods and innovation, thus reviving the Thai economy and contributing to income distribution.

In addition, he said, New Year celebrants should apply the Sufficiency Economy philosophy, initiated and developed by His Majesty the King, in arranging activities to mark this occasion. He explained that the celebrations should be not be too extravagant and should be based on moderation.

In the olden days, Thais regarded the first day of the waning moon of the first lunar month as New Year’s Day. It usually fell around the end of November or early December. Other ethnic groups living in Southeast Asia are believed to have celebrated New Year’s Day in either late November or early December as well. Later, the first day of the waxing moon of the fifth lunar month, in mid-April, was observed as the traditional Thai New Year’s Day, known as Songkran.

In 1889, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) officially set the Thai New Year’s Day as April 1, but later it changed back to April 13. Thailand adopted the Western New Year date of January 1 in 1941, during the reign of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), the elder brother of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Government has also designated December 31 and January 1 public holidays for people to join New Year celebrations. The New Year festive season is one of the best times for joyous activities in the midst of pleasant and cool weather in Thailand.

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