The flag and the emblem of Thailand

27 April 2010

The flag of Thailand 

Every day at 8 am, people even in the smallest settlements in Thailand remember to raise their national flag. This important tri-colour piece of cloth is then lowered every evening at 6. Both these ceremonies are accompanied by the sound of the national anthem.

Thailand | The flag of Thailand (by geoinfo.amu.edu.pl )

The flag of Thailand consists of five horizontal stripes in three different colours. The red stripes are at the top and at the bottom. Between them are two white stripes of the same width with the middle blue stripe being twice as wide. The red colour stands for the nation and white is for the dominant religion – Buddhism. White symbolises good fortune but is also connected with Saturday – the day of the week King Vajiravudh was born. One may also come across theories that suggest blue was inserted as an act of gratitude for French assistance during the 1st World War.

Thailand | The historical flag of Thailand (by thailandtourismguide.com )

Until 1915, the Thai flag had a different pattern. It was all red with a white elephant in the middle – the symbol of absolute monarchy. After that it was changed to symmetrical alternating red and white stripes which – or so the story goes – was supposed to prevent it from hanging incorrectly upside down. In addition, it made it similar to patterns typical of Europe. The blue stripe appeared after World War I.

The emblem of Thailand

Built into the emblem of Thailand, the Garuda – a mysterious bird with red feathers and a human torso - welcomes you with its outstretched wings to the realm of Vishnu and the Enlightened One – The Buddha. This mythical creature is closely connected with Buddhism and Hinduism, and as an emblem it symbolises the strength and steadfast indomitability of the country and hope for a better tomorrow.

Thailand | The Garuda – the official emblem of Thailand (by wikipedia.org )