No public holidays due to the corona crisis
Due to the corona virus, the well-known (holiday) days will be given a different interpretation in the near future, both in Thailand and elsewhere in the world. The upcoming Chakri Day, Monday April 6, will no longer be a day off as people used to due to the corona virus. Government services and post offices will also be closed on that day.
What is the Chakri day? Then it is commemorated that the Chakri dynasty is the dynasty that has ruled Thailand since the establishment of the Rattanakosin era and the capital shifted from Siam to the city of Bangkok in 1782. Rama I held the title of the Chakri for many years, the title of the civil chancellor, before the dynasty was established.
A week later, Easter weekend, April 12 and 13, as well as the Songkran New Year celebrations will take place. Easter falls on a different date every year. To know when Easter is, you need to know the phases of the moon and how Sundays fall. There is a rule of thumb: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the moment when day and night are equal in length. This was at the time established in the year 325.
With the current arrangements, people will refrain from church attendance or holiday celebrations. It will remain quiet on the roads and in the places where people used to go. Many activities will come to a standstill, such as visiting furniture boulevards or lighting large Easter fires. Dew stairs, at most in a personal capacity, but no group event. Or short Easter holidays. It is hoped that the Dutch government will take a clear position towards foreign tourists that they are not welcome this year because of the corona virus.
Curiously enough, the Songkran celebration (Maha Songkran) is also scheduled on the same date as the Easter event. Here too, use is made of the fact that the day must be as long as the night. That is followed by the Nao Day on April 14 and the actual New Year on April 15.
What can one expect? The reporting is unclear. The TAT believes it can organize something in a modest place. However, other information from March 6 leaves nothing to guess: Songkran parties and celebrations are canceled everywhere for 2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak!
A very big change this year. No more crowded roads, in fact very likely empty roads. The well-known “hotspots” in Pattaya, where fierce water fights were fought until last year, will give a completely different picture. All bars like in Soi 6 and 7 are all closed, maybe except for a stray farang, who didn't understand it very well and wonders where everyone has gone with his water pistol. It won't be much different at Pattaya Beach.
Perhaps the original ritual does take place elsewhere in Thailand. Namely to honor the parents, to pour water on the hands and so on.
A strange balance this year. Fewer road deaths, but hopefully not overtaken by the corona virus.
Source: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners, ea
I don't quite understand the logic. Chakri Day will not be a holiday this year, but on that day "government services and post offices will also be closed." So a day off after all?
It may be the free interpretation of the source or not quite the truth.
I can understand that songkran days are moved because of the traditional family visit, but Chakri day is another story. It is very convenient that this day is here because it prevents a lot of business travel at a time when every little bit helps I think….
One cannot travel freely on this day off, make family visits elsewhere in the country and visit all kinds of activities, parks and beaches, restaurants and entertainment companies. So fill it in as people were used to before that time.
These people do have a “free”, not working, day.
In this unsolicited situation, sacrifices will also have to be asked from employees. In any case, it is not the fault of the employer if there is zero income due to government intervention and now it will become clear who was good for their employees. There is no other work, so it becomes internal and the parents could be the victims of that.
On the other hand, there will come a point where the economy takes precedence as income is a little more important to 98% of the population than sacrificing 2%.
In my opinion one buys time and hope and if it can't go any further then it is so despite the suffering.