Holidays & Festivals 2007/2549



1st January NEW YEARS DAY
Yes, New Years Day is celebrated in Thailand with a public holiday!


13th January CHILDREN'S DAY
On the second Saturday of January the Thai people celebrate Children's Day by taking their children out to have fun. Many local authorities organise special events and other places of interests usually let children in for half price or even for free on this day.


16th January TEACHER'S DAY
Since 1957 schools have closed on this day to remember the important role Teachers play in society


18th February CHINESE NEW YEAR
With many people of Chinese decent in Thailand this occasion is widely celebrated over a period of three days.


3rd March MACKA BUCHA DAY
Commemorating the first sermon of the Buddha to a spontaneous gathering of enlightened monks. A public holiday marked by candlelit processions walking three times around the main Wat in every city.


6th April CHAKRI MEMORIAL DAY
Commemorating the day in 1769 when the founder of the present dynasty, King Rama 1st, took the throne.


13-15th April SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
This is the Thai New Year, a time of celebration and throwing of water! Expect to get wet! Songkran is the most important feast for Thai people, a time for being with family.


1st May LABOUR DAY
An internationally celebrated day.


5th May CORONATION DAY
A public holiday commemorating the Coronation of the King and Queen in 1950.


31st May VISAKHA BUCHA DAY
A very important and sacred day commemorating Lord Buddha's birth, path to enlightenment and death. Expect to see candlelit processions around the Wats.


27th May-2nd June KOH SAMUI 6TH TROPICAL ISLAND REGATTA
A major event, now firmly anchored in the Asian Yacht racing Calendar.


1st July BANK HOLIDAY


29th July ASALA BUCHA
A lunar festival observing the first sermon preached by the Buddha, on the 1st Full moon in July.


12th August QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY
A public holiday celebrating the Queens birthday and Mothers Day, as she is the Mother of the People.


23rd October CHULALONGKORN DAY
A public holiday observing the passing of King Rama V, who is credited for modernising Thailand.


24th November LOI KRATHONG
The tradition of setting banana-leaf boats with flickering candles adrift in rivers and waterways and aptly named the "Festival of Light", is now one of Thailand's most internationally known festivals, celebrated on the full moon of the 12th lunar month..


5th December KING'S BIRTHDAY
A national holiday celebrating King Bhumibol's birthday


10th December CONSTITUTION DAY
Celebrating the start of Thailand's Constitutional Monarchy in 1932, before this Thailand had an absolute Monarchy


25th December CHRISTMAS DAY
Although the majority of people in Thailand are Buddhists and Christmas is not a holiday, the Thai people love to take part in celebrations.


31st December NEW YEARS EVE
New Years Eve is also celebrated in Thailand, so that makes three New Year's!


FULL MOONS
Full Moon Parties take place at Haad Rin Bedach, Koh Pan Ghan every full moon throughput the year.