Teachers Day in Thailand: Wai Kru Day | Teacher Appreciation Day — Teach English in Thailand with Kids English
National Teachers Day in Thailand
Teachers Day or National Teachers Day is a big deal in Thailand and is on 16th January every year. This day is to respect teachers and those in the education system. The Ministry of Education is behind Teachers Day to ensure teachers are recognized and celebrated nationwide. Teachers don’t teach, and students don’t go to school. Teachers usually have activities at school to do to bond with the faculty. Wan Kru is a Thai public holiday on 16th January every year. Wan Kru is not to be confused with Wan Wai Kru on the second Thursday of June. Wan Kru is more of a policy-based occasion, and Wan Wai Kru is more of a ceremony. The Secretariat Office of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand created the holiday in 1957 at the National Stadium of Thailand. Thai Teacher’s Day is on 16th January because on this day in 1945, the Teachers Act was published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette. In 1996, the National Committee for Teachers announced the orchid as the symbolic flower of Teachers because of the poem of M.L. Pin Malakul, Minister of Culture 1957-1958 and Minister of Education 1957-1969.
Wai Kru Day
The Wai Kru Ceremony is a sacred and essential Thai tradition that shows students how much they love and respect their teachers. This is a big deal in Thailand as it’s all about strengthening the student-teacher bond and education. Usually, in June or July, Wai Kru Day is celebrated in most schools across the country. It’s a day for students to show their respect, humility, and gratitude to their teachers for teaching them. The reason for Thursday's Wai Kru Ceremony is based on Thai culture and religion. Thursday is the day of Brihaspati, the Vedic god of wisdom and teachers. A key part of the Wai Kru Ceremony is the Buddhist prayer, which reflects the day's spiritual aspect and respect for the teaching profession.
What is Wai Kru Day?
Wai Kru Day, or Teacher Appreciation Day, is significant in Thai culture, where students show gratitude and respect to their teachers. Usually, in June or July, this day is to acknowledge the hard work of teachers. The highlight of Wai Kru Day is the Wai Kru ceremony, during which students give their teachers flowers and other symbolic gifts. During the ceremony, students do the “wai,” a traditional Thai greeting in which they bow slightly with their hands together to show respect. This heartfelt gesture shows how much students appreciate their teacher’s guidance and mentorship. That’s why Wai Kru Day is unique and meaningful in Thai culture.
Wai Kru Day Meaning in Thai Culture
Wai Kru Day is significant in Thai culture; it reflects the values of respect and hierarchy in Thai society. Teachers in Thailand are highly respected and seen as the backbone of the country. The Wai Kru ceremony is a way for students to show their respect and gratitude to their teachers and to emphasize the importance of education and the teacher-student relationship. This is not just a formality; it’s a tradition from the heart that shows teachers' importance in guiding and nurturing their students. By joining Wai Kru Day, students will remember the value of education and respect for those who dedicate their lives to teaching.
Thai Wai Day or Teacher Appreciation Day
By performing the Wai Kru on this day, students ask for blessings from Brihaspati to acknowledge the connection between education and spirituality. Good teachers create a good learning environment, which we celebrate today. Apart from schools, Wai Kru is in other traditional Thai arts and disciplines. Practitioners and martial arts students, like Muay Thai and Krabi Krabong, also do Wai Kru. Good teachers teach well, and that’s the connection between good teaching and student success. Similarly, those who practice classical Thai dance, music, and astrology also do the ceremony. Homeroom teachers have a unique role in the Wai Kru Ceremony, where students kneel and show gratitude through gestures like flowers and bowing; that’s the cultural importance of teacher appreciation in Thailand. Wai Kru is a rite of passage for those embarking on a traditional Thai massage or classical arts journey. It’s a beautiful way to show respect and homage to their teachers, mentors, and even the deities of their art forms.
Ultimately, Wai Kru summarizes ThailaThailand'sral heritage, the importance of teachers, and the connection between education, spirituality, and traditional arts. The deep rituals of Wai Kru align with the ancestors' animistic beliefs in Thai culture, which Brahminism influenced from the Indian subcontinent. This is evident in the elaborate Wai Kru ceremonies in traditional Thai dance and music, where explicit homage is paid to Ishvara, a key Hindu deity.
In Thai Massage, this influence is more visible as practitioners do Wai Kru, where they explicitly acknowledge Shivaga Komarpaj, a legendary doctor who was said to be a contemporary of Gautama Buddha and Narayana, another Hindu deity. These deities and others are believed to be the spiritual foundation and sacred lineage of Thai Massage. Through the Wai Kru ceremonies in these various art and healing disciplines, participants connect deeply to the divine forces believed to guide and bless their art. These are the heartfelt expressions of the cultural and historical connection between Thai traditions and the spiritual philosophies of Southeast Asia.
So Wai Kru is not only about respecting and venerating teachers but also a bridge that connects Thai cultural practices with the country's religious and spiritual beliefs. Throughout history, Wai Kru has been a beloved folk tradition passed down from generation to generation and is part of ThailaThailand'sral heritage. In its current form, Wai Kru, practiced in most Thai schools today, was created in 1941 at Triam Udom Suksa School. During this time, Thanpuying Dussadee Malakul Na Ayutthaya, the wife of ML Pin Malakul, the director of Triam Udom Suksa School, wrote the revered Sarabhañña Chant. This chant is now part of the Wai Kru ceremony. The ceremony itself has the essential elements that make it sacred and respectful. It starts with a Buddhist prayer to set the spiritual foundation of education and the student-teacher relationship.
Then, the student body recites the Wai Khru Chant to express gratitude and respect to the teachers. This is a unifying moment for the students, a genuine expression of appreciation and a re-commitment to learning. Part of the Wai Kru ceremony is to present symbolic items to the teachers. Student representatives offer flowers, candles, and simple items as tokens of appreciation and gratitude. These are the students’ way' f expressing gratitude to their teachers and a sign of respect and honor. Finally, the Wai Kru ceremony often has a speech by the school principal or headmaster. These speeches usually focus on inspiration, motivation, and academic success in the coming school year. These words of wisdom and encouragement will inspire the students to be determined and ambitious and create a positive learning environment.
In all its forms, Wai Kru reflects the cultural values of education, respect for teachers, and the pursuit of excellence in Thai schools. Within the Wai Khru ceremony, each element has deep meaning. One of the significant parts of this revered tradition is the flowers the students offer to the teachers. These flowers are chosen to represent specific qualities. Presenting flowers during Wai Kru means the students are blooming under the care of their teachers. Each flower has its meaning and the qualities the students want to develop. For example, the orchid dok mai is delicate and beautiful, representing elegance, refinement, and sophistication. By offering orchids to their teachers, the students express their wish to have these qualities and to be sophisticated in their learning. The lotus, bua, has deep meaning in Buddhist philosophy.
The beautiful lotus from the mud represents purity, enlightenment, and spiritual growth. Students offer lotuses to their teachers to show their commitment to learning, overcoming challenges, and gaining wisdom. The fragrant jasmine, dok mali, represents humility, simplicity, and sincerity. By acknowledging the importance of these values, students offer jasmine to their teachers to show their intention to learn with a humble and genuine approach.
Moreover, the beautiful and bright marigold, dok khun, represents respect, admiration, and energy. By offering marigold flowers, the students thank their teachers for their wisdom, guidance, and energy. By choosing and offering these flowers, the students give meaning to the Wai Kru ceremony. This is the students expressing themselves to their teachers.
My First Wai Kru Ceremony
I remember my first year as a teacher in 2002 so well; the flower trays for the Wai Kru Ceremony were gorgeous. As I sat on stage with my fellow teachers, surrounded by red chairs and a red carpet, our students came to us on their knees. They bowed their heads and presented us with the flower trays they had made. Each tray was handmade for this occasion, with candles and incense on top.
Their respect was more than just in their offerings. They chanted the Wai Kru with so much passion, and the air was filled with gratitude and respect for their Thai teachers. Through this ancient chant, they thanked us for the knowledge, guidance, and care we had given them. It was such a touching moment that showed the special bond between students and teachers and the impact teachers have on their students’ lives. But the Wai Kru Chant was more than just a thank you; it was a request. They were asking for our blessings for their studies and their futures. This acknowledged our role in shaping, guiding, and preparing them for what’s to come.
The Wai Kru Ceremony, with its beautiful flower trays, the respect shown, and the chanting, is a tradition that honors and appreciates teachers. It’s a lovely reminder of the mutual respect between teachers and students, rooted in a love of learning, growth, and wisdom.
Thai Words for ‘Teacher’ - ‘Ajarn’ and ‘Kru’
In Thailand, when we refer to the English word “teacher,” we use two words: “Kru” and “Ajarn”. Both mean “teacher.”
The Teachers Act was published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on January 16, 1945. This historical document is the foundation for Thai Teacher’s Day, and government documentation is vital for national celebrations. “Kru is a general term covering all educators and mentors. It applies to anyone who teaches at any level, including primary, secondary, vocational, and other educational institutions. Thai Teacher’s Day, on January 16, honors all these teachers.
It’s an all-encompassing term that covers all teachers' roles and areas of expertise. However, in Thailand, “Ajarn” is used when addressing teachers who teach in higher education institutions like high schools, colleges, or universities. This term is associated explicitly with teachers in these higher education settings. It means the professional and expertise teachers have in these academic contexts.
Also, “Ajarn” is sometimes used to refer to more senior or respected teachers, trainers, and mentors in any educational institution. It refers to the proficiency and respect some teachers have gained through their knowledge, teaching experience, and contributions to the education field. “Kru” comes from Pali or Sanskrit and means heavy-duty or responsibility. This etymology shows the importance of the teacher in Thai society. It acknowledges teachers' prominent impact on their students and their commitment to shaping the country's future.
A well-known Thai saying, “Kru Kue Mâe-Pim Kăwng Châa,d,” summarizes the importance of teachers. It means that teachers shape and mold the nation. It emphasizes teachers' teachers' strong influence on individuals’ intellectual and social development and society as a whole.
Thai Teacher’s Day is a national holiday to honor students’ respect for their teachers. It celebrates teachers’ role in growing and humbling students.
Thank you, Teacher Helena, for the great pictures!
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