Year 2008

Description :

1 January :
New Year's Day

Together with New Year's Eve and surrounding days a long weekend is usually created. Notorious for traffic accidents though with all the drunken celebrating drivers around. Driving is a hazard in Thailand, especially around this time, and also with the Thai New Year of Loy Kratong.

21 February
(lunar calendar) : Makha Bucha

Commemorates when 1,250 of Buddha's disciples spontaneously gathered to hear the Buddha preach. Merit-making ceremonies at temples, candlelight processions at night.

6 April :
Chakri Day

Commemorates the founding of the current royal lineage in 1782

13-15 April : Songkran

13th-15th April and marks the start of the Buddhist New Year. Thailand adopted the Western New Year only in 1940. Songkran is till however the most celebrated New Year. It has evolved over the centuries from a purely religious : Buddha images were sprinkled with water to purigy them. Now there is also another component, in that people try to get anyone around just plainly wet. Water battles are fought with water pistols and buckets. Young people drive around in pick-up trucks with water containers on top of them, and throw buckets of water around. Songkran's originals customs are still maintained though, with young Thais paying respect to their parents, elders and monks, by sprinkling their hands with scented water.

Genesis Stock Photo - Songkran water throwing

1 May :

Labor Day

5 May : Coronation Day

The anniversary of the King's coronation.

19 May
(lunar calendar) : Visakha Bucha Day

Commemorates the birth, Enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
This is the holiest of holydays.

18 July
(lunar calendar) :
Khao Phansaa
(Buddhist Lent)

The start of a 3 month period of the rainy season when monks stay inside the wats, and when young boys enter the monkhood.

12 August :
HM the Queen's Birthday
National Mother's Day

National Mother's Day in Thailand coincides with the birthday of Queen Sirikit.

14 October :
Ook Phansaa

End of the Buddhist Lent. This is a day of joyful celebration and merit-making. For many families, it is also the day they welcome a son back into the home and celebrate his successful completion of a term in the temple. Not a public working holiday.

from 15 October-
(for 1 month) :
Tod Kratin

Lots of religious ceremonies take place at Buddhist temples. Robes and other necessities are donated to the monks. Many thousands of people join in merit-making ceremonies. Each temple will have its own Tod Kratin day during this period. Not to miss if you happen to be around! Visitors to the temple dress up, and offer food to the monks in the morning, and get the monks blessings. In the evening, the monks lead a candle lit procession, making three complete circuits of the main temple building.

23 October :
Chulalongkorn Day

Commemorates the death of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910), the most revered past king.

12 November :
Loy Kratong

This traditional custom has been celebrated nationwide for centuries. It is claimed that this historic ceremony has its origin in the 13th Century during the Sukhothai period. Thais go to rivers and waterways to float a Krathong in order to say thank you for the life-giving water. It is also very much a day to be with loved ones. Kratongs are small floating 'boats', originally made of banana leaves (now sometimes with foam though), and containing a candle and incense. If the kratong with candle floats away with the candle staying alight, it is considered a sign of good luck. Although widely celebrated and anticipated, Loy Kratong is not a work holiday.

Genesis Stock Photo - Girls carrying kratongs

5 December :
HM the King's Birthday
National Father's Day

National Father's Day in Thailand coincides with the birthday of King Bhumibol. His Majesty the King will on this and previous days receive the pledge of allegiance from the army during a big parade. His Majesty will also address the government and well wishers and deliver a speech in which he reflects on the previous year, and makes valuable suggestions for the coming year. Many hotels, shopping centers will set up big portraits of the King, and a large gathering happens every year at Sanam Luang, where ten of thousands of people join in the celebration. You will see people light candles in front of the King's portrait, watch the ceremonies and sing along with the songs that are broadcast around the city on television screens.

10 December :
Constitution Day

December 10 marks the Constitution Day which is held annually to commemorate the advent of the regime of Constitutional Monarchy in Thailand. Thailand made a transition from Absolute Monarch to Constitutional Monarch in 1932.

31 December :
New Years Eve

Good luck getting anything done on New Years Eve, though many companies have staff come in.

Full Moon every month Full Moon Party

The full moon party on Koh Pha Ngan attracts thousands of 'backpackers' every month. It happens on the beach with lots of music and used to be (in)famed for drug use. Those days are gone now, we assume.