Thailand Public Holidays

The following are the public holidays observed in Thailand

• New Year Day: 1 January
• Magha Puja: Full moon in February/March. This festival commemorates the speech given by Buddha to 1,250 enlightened monks. Throughout Thailand, devotees carry candles and circumambulate the main shrine of the wats three times in the clockwise direction.
• Chinese New Year: January/February
• Chakri Day: 6 April, commemorates the establishment of the royal house of Chakri
• Songkran: 13-15 April - Thai New Year, characterised by water throwing.
• Coronation Day: 5 May
• Ploughing Ceremony: May, actual day varies
• Visakha Puja: Full moon in May, to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha
• Asalaha Puja: Full moon in July, to commemorate Buddha's first sermon
• Khao Phansa: July, beginning of the Buddhist rainy season retreat
• Queen's Birthday: 12 August
• Chulalongkorn Day: 23 October
• Loy Krathong: Full moon in November, when people head to rivers and lakes to float candle-laden banana-leaf floats called the krathong, intended to be a thanksgiving offering to the water deity. It is also believed that bad luck floats away with the krathong. A spectacular light show takes place at the Sukhothai Historical Park.
• King's Birthday: 5 December
• Constitution Day 10 December
• New Year Eve: 31 December

Stupa in Chiang Mai (24 October 2006)