Thai holidays
1st January: New Year’s Day .To greet the New Year, a range of uniquely Thai traditional and cultural festivities are held in various parts of the country. As day breaks on the first day of the new year the “welcome the dawn” takes place, the Buddhist merit-making ritual, which is followed by giving alms to the Monks.
12th January: Children's Day
16th January: Teacher's Day
14th February - Valentine’s Day.
Chinese New Year. This is a big event for Thai people, as they have many strong ties to Chinese bloodlines.
Maha Boocha (February or March) celebrates the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 of the Lord Buddha’s disciples.
Chakri Day - On 6 April the founding of the Chakri Dynasty is remembered. King Rama I came to the throne on 6 April 1782. The best known past members of the Chakri dynasty are King Rama IV (King Mongkut), who hired Anna Leonowens to educate his children, and his son King Rama V (King Chualalongkorn), who opened the doors of Siam further to the West. King Rama IX, the present King, is the longest ever reigning monarch in the World. He ascended the throne of Thailand in 1946. On Chakri Day HM the King presides over a Religious Ceremony, in order to pay respect to his predecessors. A ceremony will also take place near Memorial Bridge (close to the flower and vegetable market "Pak Klong Talat"), where a statue of King Rama I has been built.
The highlight has to be ‘Songkran’ – the Thai New Year, from 13th – 15th April. Colourful parades, traditional ceremonies, lots of water and lots of fun. A time for everyone to celebrate a new year and new life.
National Labour Day is on 1st May.
His Majesty’s Coronation in 1946 is celebrated on 5 May.
Royal Ploughing Day. King Bhumibol oversees the ancient Ploughing Ceremony to mark the beginning of the rice-planting season. The ceremony is very important for Thai farmers, because it predicts how much rain will fall and how well the crops will grow. Thousands of farmers come to the Grand Palace to watch.This Ceremony takes place every year in May, on Sanam Luang, the large grass area near the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It marks the beginning of the planting season. It is believed that the amount of rain in the coming season can be predicted from it. Their Majesties the King and Queen are normally present. A "Ploughing Lord" is offered three pieces of cloth of different length. If he chooses the shortest one, rain will be plentiful. The longest one will give very little rain and the intermediate one an intermediate amount of rain. Then the "Ploughing Lord" will plough Sanam Luang with a sacred plough, drawn by white bulls. The bulls are then presented with different kinds of food and drink and whatever they choose to eat or drink is believed to be plentiful that year.
Wisaka Boocha, usually in May, is the holiest Buddhist day, marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. All over the country, people go to temples to listen to sermons by revered monks and make merit. Shortly after sunset, candlelit circumambulations take place around major temples.In July or August, the Asan Boocha observance, honors the Buddha’s first sermon over 2,500 years ago. The full-moon day of the eighth lunar month marks the preaching of Lord Buddha's first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining Enlightenment. In the evening, candlelit processions take place in Buddhist temples around the country.Around this time is Khao Phansa, which is the beginning of the Buddhist Rains Retreat (sometimes called Buddhist Lent), during which monks must remain in their temple-monasteries for the three-month period.
H.M. Queen Sirikit’s Birthday Celebration (Mother's Day), To display their loyalty and to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the occasion of her royal birthday, the Thai people decorate their houses and public buildings. Around Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the area around the Grand Palace and other well-known locations are bedecked with coloured lights and magnificent adornments.s on 12 August. It is bank holiday in Thailand. Many celebrations in temples. Main celebrations in Bangkok in front of the palace.
Chulalongkorn Day, 23 October, honors one of Thailand’s most revered kings, Rama V.
The end of the Rains Retreat, Ok Phansa in October, is not an official holiday, though there are observances held nationwide.
Loy Krathong (full moon festival) is a very special Thai celebration in early November. Everybody float (lawy) banana-leaf (grà'tong') boats bearing flowers, incense, a candle, and a coin, on lakes and rivers throughout the nation. This results in probably the most beautiful sight you can ever see in Asia or maybe in the World! Many believe their “sins” of the past are floated away. This lovely traditional festival is not an official holiday.
You can make your own Krathong, and float it on the pool or the sea so as not to miss out on any luck!
The 5th of December is the King’s Birthday Celebrations (Father's Day). King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, is well beloved and deeply respected by all Thais old and young. The occasion of his royal birthday provides his loyal subjects the opportunity to express their reverence for him. All over the country. buildings and homes are elaborately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.
On 10 December Constitution Day marks the foundation of the Constitutional Monarchy in Thailand. This event took place during the reign of King Rama VII (King Prajadhipok) in 1932. Before that Thailand was an Absolute Monarchy, with all power belonging to the King. Constitution Day is a day on which the Thai people express their gratitude to the King.
There are also the traditional Western celebrations for Christmas, closely followed by New Year’s Eve and our Gala Dinner, conducted outside under the stars.