Thailand Major Holidays

Thailand flag Thailand national flag Thailand Major Holidays
Dates Name Commemoration
January 1 New Year's Day New Year Greeting
February full moon Makha Bucha Spontaneous gathering of 1,250 Buddha's disciples
April 6 Chakri Day Founding of the Royal House of Chakri Dynasty
April 13-15 Songkran Thai New Year - Water Festival
May 1 Labor Day International Labor Day
May 5 Coronation Day H.M. the King Adulyadej - Rama IX Enthronement
May full moon Visakha Bucha Birth, Enlightenment and Death of the Lord Buddha
July full moon Asalaha Bucha Lord Buddha's First Sermon
July Khao Phansa Beginning of the Buddhist rainy season retreat
August 12 The Queen's Birthday H.M. the Queen's Birthday Celebrations
October 23 Chulalongkorn Day The King Rama V Memorial Day
December 5 The King's Birthday H.M. the King's Birthday Celebrations
December 10 Constitution Day Inauguration of Constitutional Monarchy in Thailand
December 31 New Year Eve Salutations to the outgoing year
Several unofficial yet popular Thai and international holidays like Loy Krathong Festival, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Hanukkah and other are also widely celebrated in Thailand.
Thailand flag

Thai Lunar Calendar

Although, the official calendar in the kingdom of Thailand is the Western Gregorian calendar, a traditional Thai lunar calendar is very much in use for determining many holidays, especially the Buddhists. Thai ancient lunar calendar distinguishes itself from Islamic and other lunar calendars by being set up based on the yearly agricultural cycle, as it was the most important aspect of the primarily agrarian society. Thai ancient lunar calendar is divided into 12 lunar months, like the western calendar, but the months are determined by the phases of the moon, rather than by a position of the earth in relation to sun. Being based on the cycles of moon phases, half of lunar months are 28 days long and another half are 29. Thai lunar month is also divided into four weeks.