Thai Father's Day, 5 December: what it is and the 2026 date

Mother’s Day gets the jasmine and, often, the long phone call. Father’s Day comes in December, and if you live abroad it’s easy to only notice it when a cousin posts a photo. Here’s what the day is, when the 2026 day off falls, and the small things that make it count from far away.

What is Thai Father’s Day?

Thai Father’s Day, วันพ่อแห่งชาติ (wan phor haeng chaat), or just วันพ่อ (wan phor), is on 5 December every year. It’s the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (King Rama IX), and the same date is also Thailand’s National Day. The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh’s 2026 holiday list names all three together: King Bhumibol’s birthday anniversary, National Day and Father’s Day.

It’s a public holiday in Thailand, and banks close too.

Why is it on 5 December?

King Bhumibol was born on 5 December 1927. He reigned from 1946 until he died on 13 October 2016. Thairath reports that Thailand first held National Father’s Day on 5 December 1980, set on his birthday.

The date honours his birthday, and for many families it is both a day of respect and a family day.

When is the day off in 2026?

5 December 2026 is a Saturday, so the substitute day off is Monday 7 December 2026.

• The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh’s 2026 holiday list gives Monday 7 December as the “Substitute for H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s Birthday / Thai National Day / Thailand’s Father’s Day”.
• The Bank of Thailand’s 2026 holiday list for banks gives the same Monday, as reported by Thai PBS and HR Online.

So a long weekend from Saturday 5 to Monday 7 December. Thai embassies abroad publish their own holiday lists, so check yours if you need paperwork done that week. For every date next year, see our Thai public holidays 2027 table.

What is the Father’s Day flower, and why yellow?

The canna is the flower of Thai Father’s Day. Thairath describes it as the symbol of the day, and gives two reasons it fits:

• Its yellow matches the colour linked to King Bhumibol’s birthday.
• Buddhists see it as an auspicious flower, with a name that speaks of the Buddha’s protection.

Wikipedia’s Father’s Day article describes giving dad a canna as a traditional practice that has become less common in recent years. Nobody will mind if it’s a card instead.

How do Thai families mark Father’s Day?

Mostly by spending the day with dad. Thairath lists the common ways:

• Bringing dad a garland, bowing to him and asking for his blessing.
• Writing dad an essay or poem.
• Drawing a family picture as a keepsake.
• A small gift from the children.
• Taking dad out for the day and doing something nice together.

None of it is big or expensive. The point is that you showed up for him. Every family does it a bit differently, so if your family has its own way, that’s the right way.

How do I make dad’s or grandpa’s day from abroad?

Call. That’s it, really. A call to dad, or to grandpa, that day is the easy version. If the time zones are awkward, the long weekend helps: Saturday, Sunday or Monday all count.

A few things that help:

• Use the right name. Dad is พ่อ (phor), and คุณพ่อ (khun phor) is the more respectful version that many families use. Mum’s dad is ตา (taa) and dad’s dad is ปู่ (puu). Our guide to Thai family words has the rest.
• Say thank you. One word, said properly, lands.

ขอบคุณ

khorp khun

ขอบคุณครับ

khorp khun khrap

ขอบคุณค่ะ

khorp khun kha

Who is speaking?

ครับ said by a manค่ะ said by a woman

Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.

• Ask him to slow down if you need to. It’s not a failure, it’s how you keep the call going.

พูดช้าๆ หน่อยได้ไหม

phuut chaa chaa noi dai mai

พูดช้าๆ หน่อยได้ไหมครับ

phuut chaa chaa noi dai mai khrap

พูดช้าๆ หน่อยได้ไหมคะ

phuut chaa chaa noi dai mai kha

Who is speaking?

ครับ said by a manค่ะ said by a woman

Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.

• Send something he can keep. A photo of your kids, a short voice message, or a picture of a canna if you can’t send the real thing.

If the call itself makes you nervous, the video call with Yai phrases walk through a whole call, from hello to goodbye. They’re written for grandma, but the shape of the call is the same.

Practise before the big family days

Father’s Day is one of the Big family days in Reply Thai, next to birthdays and Songkran: short lines like “thank you” and “have a safe trip”, practised as replies so they’re ready when dad picks up.

Reply Thai for iPhoneComing soon

December has a lot going on. For the festival just before it, see Loy Krathong with your Thai family, and for more family words, the glossary.

Thai words on this page are a draft until a native speaker has reviewed them.