Thailand Festivals / Holidays

January/February : Lion Dance Festival
2nd. and 4th. days after the Chinese New Year. (Tuesday 12th. January Chinese New Year’s Day) Most colourful lion and dragon dances are staged by the Chinese community all over Thailand. One of the most impressive festivals is in Nakhon Sawan in Central Thailand.

February 26 : Makha Pucha Day

on the full moon day is one of the holiest Buddhist holidays and marks the occasion when 1,250 saint-disciples of the Buddha spontaneously gathered to hear his preaching (Public Holiday).

April 6 : Chakri Memorial Day

The day to commemorate the foundation of the present Chakri Dynasty in 1782. (Public Holiday 8. in lieu of Saturday 6.)

April 13 - 15 : Songkran-Festival

The traditional Thai New Year, joyfully celebrated throughout the country with rituals of merit making, cleaning houses, honouring elders, parades of dancers and boat races. What makes the festival most interesting is water splashing, an amusing way to make you cool in the hot season. It is celebrated in a grand way in Chiang Mai (Public Holiday
16. in lieu of Saturday 13.
17. in lieu of Sunday 14.).

Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins. At this time, people from the rural areas who are working in the city usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus, when the time come, Bangkok temporarily turns into a deserted city.
Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck.
The Songkran tradition is recognized as a valuable custom for the Thai community, society and religions. The value for family is to provide the opportunity for family members to gather in order to express their respects to the elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of their parents and grandparents and to present them gifts including making merits to dedicate the result to their ancestors. The elders in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity.
The values for community is to provide the opportunity to create unity in the community such as to jointly acquire merits, to meet each other and to enjoy the entertaining events. And for the society value is to create concern upon environment with cooperation such as to clean houses, temples, public places and official buildings. Thais value the religion bye means of merits acquisition, offerings alms to monks, Dhamma Practice, listening to sermon and monks-bathing.
In the afternoon, after performing a bathing rite for Buddha images and the monks, the celebrants both young and old, joyfully splash water oon each other. The most-talked about celebration takes place in the northern province of Chiang Mai where Songkran is celebrated from April 13 to 15. During this period, people from all parts of the country flock there to enjoy the water festival, to watch the Miss Songkran Contest and the beautiful parades.

April 13 - 19 : Pattaya Festival

in Thailand’s world-famous seaside resort puts on its most festive face for this annual event, held at the height of the summer season. Food and floral floats, beauty contest and a spectacular display of fireworks on beach are only a few highlights.
18. Songkran Day - Naklua
19. Songkran Day - Pattaya

May 1: National Labour Day(Public Holiday)

May 2nd : Rocket Festival

is a unique festival of the Northeast most elaborately celebrated in Yosathon province. Bamboo rockets are launched as an annual plea to gods for plenty of rainfall in the rainy season.

May 5 : Coronation Day

the day when the reigning King Bhumibol was crowned as the 9th king of the Chakri Dynasty in 1950. King Bhumibol is the longest reigning monarch in the world (Public Holiday 6. in lieu of Sunday 5.),

May 26 : Visakha Bucha

on the full moon is one of the most important Buddhist holiday. On this day in different years the Buddha was born, attained Enlightenment and entered Nirvana (Public Holiday 27. in lieu of Sunday 26.).

July 1 : Mid Year Closing Day

Non-Government Holiday

July 6 : Buddhist Lent Day

July 24 : Asarnha Bucha Day

on the full moon day is the day when Buddha have his first five disciples after his Enlightenment (Public Holiday).

July 25 : Khao Phansa Day

on the day following Asarnha Bucha Day is the first day of the three-month period of Rains Retreat when monks meditate and study the doctrine of Buddha and laymen renew their commitment to follow the precepts of Buddhism. Monks are required to stay at their resident temples throughout the Rains Retreat period (Public Holiday).

August 12 : H.M. the Queen’s Birthday

On 12th August it is the Queen’s Birthday and Thailand’s Mother Day. As she is regarded as the mother of all Thai people, we also celebrate Mother’s Day on this same day. All Thai nationals look forward to participating in any activities initiated to remind everybody of every mother as `a giver’.

October 23 : Chulalongkorn Day

is held to commemorate the death of King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) who passed away in 1910 (Public Holiday).

November : Loy Krathong Festival

celebrated on the full moon night is probably the most romantic festival in Thailand. In the evening, people gather at the waterside to float Krathongs, lotus-shaped vessels lovely decorated with flowers and lit candles as a thanksgiving and worship to the Goddess of Water. Magnificent celebrations are held in Sukhothai and Chiang Mai.

November 26 : The River Kwae Bridge Week

Each year in late November to early December, the world famous River Kwae Bridge, which was built by Allied prisoners-of-war during World War II , becomes the focal point of celebrations. Highlights include historical and archaeological exhibitions, a carnival, folk and cultural performances, rides on World War II vintage trains, and a spectacular light and sound presentation re-enacting the bridge’s World War II history.

November 26 : Surin Elephant Round-up Week

A north-eastern province, Surin is famous not only for its greatest number of elephants in Thailand, but also for its world - famous elephant round-up. The show features elephant football, elephant race and hunt, elephants in ancient battle and demonstrations of their strength and skills.

December 5 : H.M. the King’s Birthday

It is also observed as National Day. Huge crowds gather at Sanam Luang and on Ratchadamnoen Road in Bangkok on the evening of the 4th and 5th to celebrate jubilantly (Public Holiday).

December 10: Constitution Day(Public Holiday)

December 31 : New Year’s Eve(Public Holiday)