

THAI CALENDAR



A- Increase or decrease font size for easier reading : A+





JANUARY

: New Year's Day / วันขื้นปีใหม่

Sawatdee Pee Mai Since a few decades, the western New Year's Day is also a public holiday in Thailand. But for Thai people, the traditional and most popular New Year's Day happens in April. It is called "SONGKRAN". There is a 543 years difference between the Buddhist calendar and the Gregorian calendar. This year 2020 in Europe is year 2563 in Thailand.

: Thai children Day / วันเด็กแห่งชาติ

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 may not give it to an elderly person. This day always happens on the second saturday of January.

: Teachers Day / วันครู

This day is an occasion for pupils to make merit for their teachers (ไหว้ครู). Teachers are highly worshipped in Thailand for their knowledge. Pupils do not dare to embarrass their teachers by asking questions.

: Thai Army Day / วันกองทัพไทย

During this day, Thai King visits the army and watches a military parade.

: Chinese New Year's Day / วันตรุษจีน

Chinese New Year's Day Thailand has more than 60 millions of inhabitants. Around 6 millions of them have Chinese ancestors, who immigrated to Thailand last century. So Chinese New year's day is an important day for the Chinese community.

FEBRUARY

: Makabucha day / วันมาฆาบูชา

Makabucha day It comes from the day when 1250 disciples gathered to listen to Buddha's Dharma speech ( ธรรมะ ) after his enlightment. It is a Buddhist public holiday.

As 08th Feb is a Saturday, Monday 10th Feb is given as a substitution public holiday.

: Valentine's Day / วันวาเลนไทน์

MARCH

No public holidays in March this year.

APRIL

: Chakri day / วันที่ระลึกมหาจักรีบรมราชวงศ์

Chakri day This public holiday commemorates the Chakri dynasty. The current King is the tenth King of the Chakri dynasty. A Royal ceremony is performed by the King to pay respect to King Rama I the Great, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty.

: Songkran / วันสงกรานต์

Songkran The "SONGKRAN" festival happens during the hot season in mid- April. This festival happens in all Buddhist "THEREVADA" countries, i.e. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma (Myanmar). Songkran is the ancient New Year's Day. Now the official New Year's Day happens on the 1st January. But the most popular feast in Thailand is still "SONGKRAN".

Due to Covid-19 virus outbreak in Thailand, Songkran festival is postponed until further notice.

MAY

: National Labour day / วันแรงงานแห่งชาติ

The first day of May is a public holiday commemorating the workers.

: Coronation day / วันฉัตรมงคล

Coronation day This is a day to commemorate the coronation of King Bhumibol also known as King Rama IX.

: Visakabucha day / วันวิสาขบูชา

This day is a Buddhist public holiday. This day commemorates the birth, the enlightment and the death (entry into the nirvana) of Buddha. Temples throughout the country are crowded with people listening to sermons about Dharma (Buddha's teaching). In the evening there is a candlelit procession around the main building of the temple (โบสถ์) containing the Buddha statues.

: Royal Ploughing / วันพืชมงคล

The Royal ploughing is done every year by Brahminic priests. This event happens in the front of the Royal temple "WAT PHRA KAEW" (วัดพระแก้ว) on the big field called "SANAM LUANG" (สนามหลวง).

This ceremony symbolises the beginning of the sowing period. Brahminic priests bless seeds and make symbolic furrows using a plough pulled by buffalos. Once the ceremony is over, onlookers run to the furrows in order to get the blessed seeds. Those seeds are supposed to bring good harvests.

JUNE

: H.M. Queen Suthida's Birthday / วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสุทิดา พัชรสุธาพิมลลักษณ พระบรมราชินี

This is a public holiday to commemorate the current Thai Queen birthday.

JULY

: Bank day / วันยุดธนาคาร

This day is not a public holiday but banks are closed to observe the Mid Year Closing Day.

: Asalabucha day / วันอาสาฬหบูชา

This day is a Buddhist public holiday. It 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 to become a monk. So this day is sacred because it deals with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (Buddhist community). There are also candlelit processions.

: Buddhist Lent day / วันเข้าพรรษา

Buddhist Lent day This day is a Buddhist public holiday. It is the beginning of the Buddhist rain retreat which lasts three months. During this period monks are not allowed to sleep outside their temple. Thai people buy big candles and offer them to temples.

As 05th Jul is a Sunday, Tuesday 07th Jul is given as a substitution public holiday.

: H.M. The King Birthday / วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวมหาวชิราลงกรณ บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร

H.M. The King Birthday This public holiday is the birthday of the current Thai King, Rama X. All the buildings of Thailand are covered up with symbols of the monarchy and the King.

AUGUST

: Mother's day / วันแม่แห่งชาติ

Thai Mother's day This public holiday is Mother's Day in Thailand. This day is also the birthday of Thai Queen Sirikit (wife of King Bhumibol also known as King Rama IX). On this day all the buildings of Thailand are covered up with images of H.M. The Queen.

SEPTEMBER

: Thetsakan Sat Chin / เทศกาลสารทจีน

This day is celebrated by the Chinese community. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a major Buddhist and Taoist event. Hungry ghosts are the restless spirits of people who did not have a funeral. There is no one visiting their graves and they do not receive the gifts that Chinese people would take to their ancestors to pay respects. They miss out on food and spirit money.

: Thetsakan Sat Thai / เทศกาลสารทไทย

OCTOBER

: Moon festival / วันไหว้พระจันทร์

: End of Buddhist Lent day / วันออกพรรษา or วันปวารณา

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" - ทอดกฐิน) happen everywhere in Thailand. Thai people choose poor remote Buddhist temples and bring there clothes, food for the monks. "THOT KATHIN" ceremonies last one month.

Robes offering ceremony start The main highlight during "THOT KATHIN" festival is the "Robes offering ceremony" to the monks. This festival shall happen within one month.

: Passing of H.M. King Rama IX / วันคล้ายวันสวรรคตพระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร สยามินท

This is a public holiday to commemorate the H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, i.e. H.M. King Rama IX.

: Vegetarian festival / เทศกาลกินเจ

The vegetarian festival lasts until the 25th October included, so a total of nine days.

: Chulalongkorn day / วันปิยมหาราช

Rama V This is a public holiday date to commemorate the Rama V or Chulalongkorn's wise reign over Thailand. Thanks to him, Thailand did not become a French or English colony even if Thailand lost his leadership over Laos, Cambodia and the northern provinces of Malaysia. During his reign, Thailand became a modern country.

: Loi Krathong day / วันลอยกระทง

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 styrofoam surrounded by banana leaves, with flowers and a candle in the middle. During the evening Thai people go to places where there is a river, a pound to launch their "KRATHONG".

NOVEMBER

No public holidays in November this year.

DECEMBER

: Father's day / วันพ่อแห่งชาติ

This public holiday commemorates King Bhumibol's birthday (also known as King Rama IX).

As 05th Dec is a Saturday, Monday 07th Dec is given as a substitution public holiday.

: Constitution Day / วันพระราชทานรัฐธรรมบูญ

Since Thailand is a democracy. Before 1932, Thailand was called Siam and was under the total rule of the King. Now Thailand is a democracy. The king has still some power, but just a moral power over Thai people, who worship him for all its kindness and goodness. Thailand is similar to English system, i.e. a King with no real power, a government and no president. This public holiday is the day to commemorate the Thai constitution.

: Christmas Day / วันคริสต์มาส

: King Taksin Memorial Day / วันสมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช

: New Year's Eve / วันสิ้นปี

New Year's Eve This public holiday is the last day of the year. The New Year holiday and "SONGKRAN" period have always high accident tolls. During New year holiday , 501 people were killed in traffic accidents. Many were found to have been caused by reckless and drunk motorcyclists.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.