hail the queen!

mother’s day. in thailand, this holiday is quite dissimilar to the commercialized flower, card, and breakfast-in-bed extravaganza that has developed in the united states. in fact, it is actually a nationwide celebration of the queen’s birthday, who is referred to as the mother of thai people, rather than for the purpose of actually celebrating your own mother. that being said, though the main focus is on the queen, whose face is raised on flags and adorned on elaborate flower displays outside of shops, houses, and restaurants for weeks prior the big day, august 12th is still used to take a moment to pray and honor your own mother via Buddhist rituals at temple, wai-ing to your mother, giving her offerings of flowers, and making donations to the monks in honor of your irreplaceable mom.



…importantly, though, along with any religious holiday comes the elaborate ordeal of day-long performances, celebrations, and opulent displays of entertainment, making for another interesting day as a kindergarten teacher in a new culture.


mother’s day festivities took an equally sizable portion of schooltime (no complaints from me) to prepare for in the weeks leading up to the event as had teacher appreciation day. the day of, however, completely blows waikru day out of the water. i screech my motorbike to a halt outside of the school gates to the welcoming scene of a completely transformed outdoor area (usually reserved for the superficial play equipment), now decked out with such exquisite adornments of brightly colored satin drapings and fairy light-covered ornamental trees and tents housing different activity stations and an expanse of plastic chairs that i might have mistaken the school for a high-class wedding venue.


my assigned position being inside helping the kiddies in their “behind the scenes” preparation before the dancing and singing performances take place for the waiting crowd of parents outside (aka covering them with drag queen makeup and squeezing them into tight satined, sequined, feathered little numbers) is an experience in itself. i don’t recognize half the students with their liberally-applied makeup, and as much as it slightly grosses me out, it is fun to help in the application process.


when all eyelashes are thoroughly mascara-ed and all cheeks properly blushed on all boys and girls young and old, the dance performances begin, and i can’t help but feel a sense of motherly pleasure in watching my little kiddies attempt to follow the simple choreography to the corny english lyrics and indistinguishable –yet surely equally as corny thai lyrics- about the person who is “holding you tight” when you’re sick and “giving you all their love”….


my interesting first experience with thai mother’s day ends with a personal makeshift attempt at offering a jasmine garland to Buddha in the small temple at the school gates in honor of my very own wonderful mother!