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is Lord Buddha's birth, 543 before Jesus Christ. Just remember: ( 2003-2006 + 543 = 2546). This page contains information about
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| Moveable Public Holidays
Songkran Makha Bucha Vaisakh Bucha Asarnha Bucha (Government only) Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) Royal Ploughing Ceremony (Government only) Chinese New Year Unofficial, Chinese (community only)
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Holidays Listed by the Month
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| 01 : New Year's Day
Since several decades, the westerner New Year's day is also a public holiday day in Thailand. But probably the popular New Year's day for Thai people happens in April; it is called "SONGKRAN". |
| Thai children Day
During this day, feasts organized by children happen. Children are highly respected in Thailand. In a bus an adult often gives his seat to a child but not to an elderly person. This day always happens on the second Saturday in January. |
| 16: Teachers Day
This day is an occasion for pupils to make merit for their teachers. Teachers are highly worshipped in Thailand for their knowledge. Pupils do not dare to embarrass their teachers. |
| 25 : Thai Army Day
During this day, Thai King Rama IX visits the army and watches a military parade. |
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| Chinese New Year's Day
On the day before the Chinese New Year's Day, Thai people with Chinese roots start to make offerings to gods, their ancestors, the God of Land and the God of Luck. Offerings include steamed duck, chicken, pork heads, fresh or canned fruit, Chinese cakes (often with durian) and vegetarian food. Chinese flowers ("DOOK MAI CHIN") and golden paper are also offered. On the Chinese New Year's day, family members visit each other and give each other money red envelopes called "ang pao". These envelopes contain money. On this day, Chinese restaurants are very busy because all families are going out. For Chinese New Year's Day parades with big dragons happen. When the
dragon pass
Thailand has more than 60 millions of inhabitants. Around 6 million
of them have Chinese ancestors that immigrated to Thailand last century.
So Chinese New year's day is an important day.
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| Makabucha day
This day is a religious public holiday. It came from the day when 1250 disciples from the Lord Buddha gathered to listen for the Dharma speech after Buddha's enlightenment. Merit making ceremonies take place at temples, while at night candlelit processions walk three times around the temple (one time for the Lord Buddha, one time for the Sangha - Buddhist monk community, one time for the Dharma - Buddhist teachings). |
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No public holidays during this month. |
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| 06 : Chakri day
This day commemorates the Chakri dynasty. The current King is the ninth King of the Chakri dynasty. A Royal ceremony is performed by the King to pay respects to King Rama I the Great, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty. As Chakri day happens on a Saturday, the following Monday 8th is also a public holiday. |
| 13-14-15 : Songkran
The "SONGKRAN" festival happens in the hot season in half of April. This festival happens in all Buddhist "THEREVADA" countries like Thailand, Lao, Cambodia and Burma. Songkran is the ancient New Year's Day. Now the official New Year's Day happens the 1st January. But the most popular feast is still "SONGKRAN". As Songkran festival happens during a week end, the Tuesday 16th is also a public holiday. |
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| 01 : National Labour day
The first day of May is a public holiday commemorating the workers. |
| 05 : Coronation day
This public holiday is a day to commemorate the coronation of King Rama IX. As Coronation day happens on a Sunday, the Monday 6th is also a public holiday. |
| 09 : Royal Ploughing
Royal ploughing is done every year by Brahmanic priests. This event happens in the front of the temple "WAT PHRA KAEW" on the big field called "SANAM LUANG". This ceremony symbolizes the beginning of the sowing period. Brahmin priests bless seeds and make symbolic furrows using a plough pulled by buffaloes. Once the ceremony is over, all the watching people run to the furrows in order to get the blessed seeds. Those ones are supposed to bring good harvests. |
| Visakabucha day
This day is a religious event. This event commemorates the birth, the enlightenment and the death (entry into the nirvana) of Buddha. Temples through the country are crowded with people listening to sermons about Dharma (Buddha's teaching) and in the evening there is a candlelit procession around the main building of the temple containing the Buddha statues. As Visakabucha day happens on a Sunday, the following Monday is also a public holiday. |
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No public holidays during this month. |
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| Asalabucha day
This day, which is a religious event, happens one day just before the Buddhist Lent day. This day commemorates the first sermon of Buddha to his five first disciples. One of them asked for being a monk. So this day is sacred because it deals with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. There are also candlelit processions. |
| Buddhist Lent day
This day is a religious event. It is the beginning of the Buddhist rain retreat which last three months. During this period monks are not allowed to sleep outside their temple. During these three months there are no important feasts in Thailand. Even traditional Thai marriage are not happening during this period because there are no monks at the ceremony. |
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| 12 : H.M. The Queen's Birthday
This public holiday is the day of all the mothers of Thailand. Especially the Queen, the mother of all Thai people. On this day all the buildings of Thailand are covered up with symbols of the Royalty, of the King and the Queen. As the H.M The Queen's Birthday is a Sunday, the Monday 13 is also a public holiday. During this day, mothers go to Thai schools. Children say little speech
about their love to their mother. Then every child stand in front of his
mother and greet her feet ("WAI") and say their love towards their mother.
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No public holidays during this month. |
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| End of Buddhist Lent day
This day is a religious event. The three months rain retreat is over for monks. Monks are allowed to go out of temples. Robes offering ceremonies ("THOT KATHIN") happen everywhere in Thailand. Thai people choose temples everywhere in Thailand and bring there clothes, food for the monks. "THOT KATHIN" ceremonies last one month. |
| 23 : Rama V 's day
This is a public holiday day to commemorate the Rama 5 or Chulalongkorn wise reign over Thailand. Thanks to him, Thailand did not become a French or English colony even if Thailand lost his leadership over Lao, Cambodia and the northern provinces of Malaysia. During his reign, Thailand became a modern country. |
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| Loi Krathong day
Loi Krathong is a religious event which happens every year on the full moon of the 12th lunar month (first full moon day of November). All Thai people buy or make a "KRATHONG". It is made of floating disks of banana stems surrounded by banana leaves, with flowers and a candle in the middle. Then in the evening, Thai people go to places where there is a river, a pound to launch their "KRATHONG". In ancient times, this ceremony was to excuse one-self to the spirit of the river and to let float one's sins away. Little boys are allowed to take the coin when the candle of the krathong is out. An old proverb says that "When a boy and a girl are launching a krathong together they will be lovers this life or next life". |
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| 05 : H.M. The King Birthday
This public holiday is the day of all the fathers of Thailand. Especially the king Rama 9, the father of all Thai people. This day is the birthday of the current Thai King. All the buildings of Thailand are covered up with symbols of the monarchy, the King. Each year in the evening of the 5th December, a free huge concert is
organized in "SANAM LUANG", big garden in front of the "WAT PHRA KAEW"
in Bangkok. It is a great honor for singers to be invited to play one song
in the concert dedicated to the King. Some of them sing songs composed
by the King himself. Every kind of Thai music is played such as Mor Lam,
Thai country music, pop, Disco Dance and also every kind of singers from
very old one to teenagers in order to give satisfaction to the crowd.
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| 10 : Constitution Day
Since 1932 Thailand is a democracy. Before this famous year, Thailand was called Siam and was under the total rule of the King. Now Thailand is a democracy. Some say that Thailand is even a better democracy since the army is far from direct power (1992). The king has still some power, but just a moral power over the thai people which worships him for all its kindness and goodness. Thailand is like England: a King with no real power, a government and no president. This public holiday is the day to commemorate the Thai constitution. |
| 31 : New Year's Eve
This public holiday is the last day of the year. |
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