[LasTins]

I have seen these pink shirts with the royal emblem for months and when I asked why pink, I've been told because His Majesty's 80th birthday falls on a Tuesday this year. fine, except that it is on Wednesday, now that I checked.
why pink then? (been trying to do a google search but the connection is so slow today that I feel like punching the screen, easier to ask than search now.)

[rusculture]

If it is any consolation Betti, I have searched Google and got nowhere. Is it to do with Princess Galyanni?

[LasTins]

these shirts have been in for a few months - and the princess seems to have been born on a Sunday, now that I've checked.
His Majesty was wearing pink today when discharged from hospital.
thanks for helping out :-)

[ASSESTYTEAH]

I have seen these pink shirts with the royal emblem for months and when I asked why pink, I've been told because His Majesty's 80th birthday falls on a Tuesday this year. fine, except that it is on Wednesday, now that I checked. why pink then?

According to the international press.....

Well-wishers have been wearing yellow, a colour associated with the king's December birthday, and pink, which they believe will bring him good health. King Bhumipol was wearing a pink jacket, to symbolise good health.

[rusculture]

Thanks, Richard.

[rusculture]

Just occured to me-there is an old English saying for someone who is well/enjoying good health -they are said to be "In the Pink". Interesting co-incidence.

[LasTins]

thanks Richard.

[Dominick Yo]

My wife at her school, has been asked to wear pink every Tuesday (this started two weeks ago). When i asked her the significanace she mentioned 'Good Luck Good Health' something about the King's horoscope.

But, according to The Bangkok Post today they had this to say on the Front Page.

Thais believe that pink is an auspicious colour for those who were born in the Year of the Rabbit.. HM the King was born under this sign.

[freeringsf]

For the Pink Shirts also have a look at those Links:

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%...B9%95%E0%B9%90

http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php?...&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%...B8%B4%E0%B8%99

http://www.duangden.com/LongLiveTheKing.html

That's the Symbol (with explanation in Thai) which is used on the Pink Shirts; notice that the main Colour of the Symbol is also Pink:

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%...blem_hbd80.jpg

[ASSESTYTEAH]

I hope we don't have to do that. Although I am happy wearing a polo shirt instead of shirt and tie - I just can't see myself wearing pink. But then, before, I couldn't really see myself wearing bright yellow. At the moment we still have to wear yellow on Mondays and now on Fridays as well for this term. I just rang the principal and she assured me that although she has heard about the King's daughter selling and promoting pink shirts, nothing has been discussed at our school about wearing pink on Tuesdays. She also didn't know the significance. I think Thai people tend to blindly follow the lead of others without questioning why.

[freeringsf]

I have no problem with wearing Pink at all Richard

As I arrive in Thailand on 3rd December and might not have the time to buy a Pink Shirt until the 5th December (Kings Birthday) I already instructed my wife to buy me one.

On the 5th December I surely will wear my Pink Shirt.

LONG LIVE H.M. THE KING

[Dominick Yo]

At my wife's school, most of the staff and teachers had been wearing yellow Every day for a whole year! So, she's pretty happy that they've started promoting pink.
Yellow has been around for quite a while, so perhaps it's nice to have change!

It hasn't been mandatory for government places to wear yellow every working day. But i can tell you that at my wife's school, word has spread not to wear anything red! Why? As this colour has, over the past few months, led to mean anti-constitution/anti military coup!

[LasTins]

thanks for the links - I cannot read Thai though beyond Kindergarten level

we've been wearing yellow on Mondays and Tuesdays, schools colours on the rest of the weekdays, or optional Lanna style / blue for the Queen on Fridays, but some colleagues have started to sport pink for their sports uniform (Wednesdays). confusing.
we've all got used to wearing yellow I guess. the guys enjoy not having to wear a tie with polo shirts, I enjoy not sticking out. never been crazy about fashion anyway, enjoy being told what to wear and then that's it, no nasty comments about my new shirt or whatever. also nice that if you wear yellow or a school uniform, Thais don't treat you as a tourist. pink would be pretty steep for me but I don't think the management wants to force male staff (and themselves!) to wear pink so it remains optional it seems.

[darieBarexish]

As this colour has, over the past few months, led to mean anti-constitution/anti military coup!

Yes, and from some old books - they believe red is inauspicious for the person born on Monday. I am confused whenever reading this color thing, really don’t know which one is right, different book, different color .

[ASSESTYTEAH]

HM's pink sets tone for sellers
The Nation
9th November 2007

One day after His Majesty the King left Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital dressed in a pink shirt and blazer, the colour has become an even most popular choice this season.

Published on November 9, 2007


"I have already sold nearly 50 pink T-shirts this morning," said Nittaya Apisit-amorn, who runs a clothing store opposite Bangkok's Rajvithi Hospital.

She believed that His Majesty's choice of colour on Wednesday had given a boost to the popularity of pink.

Since last year, the colour yellow has been a huge hit in Thailand. People have worn it on Mondays to show their loyalty to the King, who was also born on a Monday. The beloved monarch celebrated his 60th year on the throne last year and will turn 80 on December 5.

However, earlier this year, pink jumped on the bandwagon of popularity as it is the colour of the ribbon featured in the emblem celebrating His Majesty's 80th birthday.

Besides, pink is also said to be an auspicious colour for His Majesty.

"I bought a pink T-shirt because wearing this colour is a means to wish His Majesty good health," Araya Janthikul, 51, said.

Korakot Wong-ubon, 23, went shopping for pink T-shirts around Victory Monument yesterday. "I am doing this because I want His Majesty to be in good health forever," she explained.

At the wholesale Bo Bae Market, small-scale vendors were buying items of clothing in pink from 5am yesterday.

One of the buyers, who identified herself only as Dam, said all pink items in her shop had been sold out on Wednesday. "I am sure pink will become even more popular than yellow," she said.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

Yes, and from some old books - they believe red is inauspicious for the person born on Monday.

It is not good luck to write your name in red because of its association with death.

[thushioli]

Its optional for our company to wear yellow t-shirt. But sometimes i will wear yellow. Never been askd to wear Pink yet...

[rusculture]

Photos of king leaving hospital in demand

Pink polo shirts are in great demand at the Siriraj pier market, where sellers gave away the photos of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, leaving hospital.

Since the monarch left Siriraj Hospital on Wednesday wearing a pink shirt and blazer, pink polo shirts have received non-stop attention from an adoring public.

Photos of the King standing unaided without a walker, taking photos of his loyal subjects, are quite popular.

Meanwhile, Yanyong Phuangrach, director-general of the Ministry of Commerce's Internal Trade Department said he had received complaints that the pink shirts have been overpriced in many markets.

He warned sellers not to overprice the shirts otherwise they will face legal action.

The Internal Trade Department will cooperate with shirt producers and retailers to price the pink polo shirts at 140-150 baht each. Well wishers are still visiting Siriraj Hospital to sign their names in get-well books, wishing a speedy recovery of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, elder sister of His Majesty the King.

The Princess has been hospitalised since mid-June for abdominal cancer. (TNA)

Bangkok Post

[rusculture]

ROYALTY / PRINCESS SIRINDHORN'S YEAR OF THE RAT DRAWINGS

Pink's in so Phufa pumps up shirt production
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN


The Phufa shop will increase production of pink shirts featuring the latest collection of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's drawings in response to skyrocketing demand for pink shirts.

The Phufa shop, which is under the Princess's patronage, will today launch a new collection of shirts decorated with the Princess's drawings of a rat and her handwriting that reads Pee Nu Yai Thai Ruam Palang (Mighty Rat, Thai Synergy) to mark the Year of the Rat next year.

The shop has produced 70,000 shirts in green, yellow, blue, purple, grey, white and pink.

But after the rush to buy pink shirts on Wednesday, when His Majesty the King left Siriraj Hospital in a pink shirt and blazer, the shop had to increase its pink shirt orders, said Katevalee Napasab of the Phufa shop's operation committee.

''We had not expected such a strong demand for pink shirts,'' Ms Katevalee said, adding that the shop had 16,000 pink shirts in stock.

It is expected the new pink shirts will sell out quickly after the launch today.

About 10,000 embroidered pink shirts with Princess Sirindhorn's hand-written ''80 years, Long Live the King'' motif were launched in September and quickly sold out.

Phufa shop officials were not the only ones surprised by the pink shirt boom.

''On the day His Majesty the King left the hospital in pink, I knew right away that pink shirts would become a hot item. Unfortunately, I have no pink shirts left in stock,'' said Amorn Techasri-amornrat, a clothes shop owner at Pratu Nam's wholesale market.

Ms Amorn said she would have to wait until next week before a new batch of pink shirts arrive.

''As far as I know, many factories have run out of pink fabric to produce the shirts,'' she said.

A garment shop owner at the Victory Monument said she has sold about 80 pink shirts in the past two days, compared to hardly any previously.

However, she said the demand for yellow shirts would not decrease because government agencies and private firms had encouraged their staff to wear yellow shirts on working days.

However, according to some office workers, their bosses have already asked their staff to wear pink shirts.

Sireethorn Pattrakulchai, who works for a media company, said her bosses told staff to wear pink every Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Royal Household Bureau yesterday released a statement on the condition of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the King's elder sister, saying her condition remained stable.

Royal physicians will continue providing the Princess with physiotherapy and medication.

Bangkok Post