Translation:Announcement for Observance of New Year’s Day on the First Day of January

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Announcement for Observance of New Year’s Day on the First Day of January (1940)
Council of Regency for King Ananda Mahidol, translated from Thai by Wikisource

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Council of Regency for King Ananda Mahidol1219964Announcement for Observance of New Year’s Day on the First Day of January1940Wikisource

Dated 1 January 2484

Royal Gazette

Volume 58Page 31

Announcement
for Observance of New Year’s Day
on the First Day of January

In the name of King Ananda Mahidol
The Council of Regency
(According to the Announcement of
the President of the House of Representatives
dated 4 August 2480 Buddhist Era)

Aditya Dibabha
General Phitchayenyothin

Under the ancient Thai custom, New Year’s Day was observed on the first waning-moon day of the first month in line with the Buddhist tradition which observes the winter season as the beginning of a year. This custom was subsequently changed in accordance with the Brahmanic tradition which observes New Year’s Day on the first waxing-moon day of the fifth month. Afterwards, once the use of the solar calendar has become the preference of the public sector, the first day of April has been adopted as the year commencement day since 2432 Buddhist Era on.

However, all the civilised countries, including the great countries in this Far East, prefer using the first day of January as the year commencement day. Such use of the first day of January is irrelevant to any creed, religion, custom, or politics of any nation or country, but it is a calculation by means of astronomical science and it has been so used for over two thousand years. Now that Thailand has adopted the solar calendar as other countries, it is highly appropriate for Her to use the first day of January as the year commencement day like all other countries. The reasons are that the first day of January is analogous to the Thai first waning-moon day of the first month and marks the cold season as the beginning of the year and the observance of New Year’s Day on the first day of January would be agreeable to the ancient Thai custom, would be compatible with the excellent Buddhist tradition, and would be on a par with all the civilised countries.

In addition, His Majesty has given a Great Royal Command enacting the Calendar Years Act, 2483 Buddhist Era, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives. Upon publication in the Royal Gazette on the 17th day of September 2483 Buddhist Era, the has thenceforth come into force, which means the State has started using the first day of January as the beginning day of a new year.

Therefore, His Majesty is pleased to give a Great Royal Command directing all the senior and junior members of the royal household, members of the clergy, and people under His authority to prefer observing New Year’s Day on the first day of January, which shall be deemed to be the custom of the Nation henceforwards. And may the new year which will begin on this first day of January 2484 Buddhist Era be the dawn of lives, may it bring the Thai Nation to prosperity and lead Her up to great glory, and may it enable all the people under His authority to enjoy general comfort and content, in very deed!

Announced on the 24th day of December 2483 Buddhist Era, being the seventh year of the present reign.

Countersignature
Phibunsongkhram
Prime Minister

This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.

Original:

This work is in the public domain worldwide because it originated in Thailand and is a work under section 7(2) of Thailand's Copyright Act, 2537 BE (1994) (WIPO translation), which provides:

7. The following shall not be deemed copyright works under this Act:

news of the day and facts having the character of mere information, not being works in the literary, scientific or artistic fields;

the constitution and legislation;

regulations, bylaws, notifications, orders, explanations and official correspondence of the Ministries, Departments or any other government or local units;

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For any other work that was created or commissioned by the Thai Government, it is in the public domain if at least 50 years have elapsed since its first publication or it was not published within 50 years of authorship.

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