Dec

2012

9:39am, EST

Thais celebrate long-serving king's 85th birthday

Royal Household Bureau via EPA

Thai people wearing yellow shirts flock to Royal Plaza ahead of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's public appearance during 85th birthday celebrations on the balcony of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 5.

Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

Thai people, wearing yellow, wave flags as tens of thousands come to pay respect to Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej as he makes a rare public appearance on the occasion of his his 85th birthday, Dec. 5, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

Thai people, wearing yellow, come to pay respect to Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej as he makes a rare public appearance on the occasion of his his 85th birthday, Dec. 5, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kerek Wongsa / Reuters

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej leaves the Siriraj Hospital for the Anatasamakom Throne Hall in Bangkok, Dec. 5.

Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters

A volunteer carries a woman as she fainted before Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrived for a ceremony outside the Anatasamakom Throne Hall in Bangkok, Dec. 5.

Hundreds of thousands lined the streets of Bangkok and crowded into the city's Royal Plaza to pay tribute to King Bhumibol Adulyadej on his 85th birthday. The world's longest-reigning monarch was hospitalized in September 2009 and has since taken up permanent residence at the Siriraj Hospital. He appeared on the ceremonial balcony before crowds wearing yellow clothing, the color associated with the monarchy and adopted by the country’s royalists. Last month, the monarch met with President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The queen was not present for the king’s speech, but his son and heir-apparent, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, was at his side.

Royal Household Bureau via EPA

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, center, sitting next to his family members, from left to right: Princess Soamsawali Mahidol, his older daughter Princess Ubol Ratana, Princess Siribhachudabhorn, youngest daughter Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol, Princess Aditayadornkitikhun, Royal Consort Princess Srirasm, grandson Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, his son Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his daughter Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Athit Perawongmetha / Getty Images

People hold up candles and sing a song honoring King Bhumibol Adulyadej during a ceremony celebrating the King's birthday on Dec. 5, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

Thai royal nurses hold candles during celebrations for King Bhumibol Adulyadej 85th birthday, Dec. 5, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Jul

2012

7:36am, EDT

'We love you father': South Africans celebrate Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday

Stephane De Sakutin / AFP - Getty Images

School children sing happy birthday to former South African President Nelson Mandela as he turned 94 on July 18, 2012, at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto.

Siphiwe Sibeko / Reuters

Lutho Makhalima, right, reads a book to Nobantu Mbhokodi as part of a 'Mandela Day' campaign asking people to volunteer their time for good causes, in Qunu on July 18, 2012.

Stephane De Sakutin / AFP - Getty Images

Schoolchildren sing happy birthday to Mandela -- popularly known as Madiba -- at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto.

South Africa's 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special 94th birthday song for former president Nelson Mandela, ringing with the line: "We love you father".

Special events are being held across the country in what has become known as "Mandela Day". The former leader's birthday is used for a campaign that aims to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better by asking people to give 67 minutes of their time painting schools, planting trees, visiting orphanages and old age homes to honour Mandela's 67 years of political activism.

The Sowetan newspaper reported that Mandela would be celebrating his birthday over lunch with his family, with the menu likely to include his favorite meal of samp and tripe.

-- Agence France Presse and Reuters contributed to this post

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Schalk Van Zuydam / AP

Nelson Mandela is pictured on his birthday in his home village of Qunu on July 18, 2012.

Schalk Van Zuydam / AP

A woman carrying oranges on her head walks to a party in honor of Nelson Mandela in Mvezo, South Africa, on July 18, 2012.

Schalk Van Zuydam / AP

Children put on clothes that were given to them during a celebration for Mandela's birthday in Mvezo on July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday.