Courtesy of villagefarang Doi Ang Khang, Fang District Chiang Mai

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January
Mon
New Years Extended Holiday

Sun

Tue
New Years Eve 7

Wed
1 New Years Day 8 2

Thu
3

Fri
4

Sat

10

11
National Childrens Day

12

13

14

15

16
Teachers Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31
Chinese New Year

Courtesy of Dancealot

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Meanam beach, Samui

February
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1
Chinese New Year

Sun

Sat

2
Chinese New Year

7
Chiang Mai Flower Festival Feb. 7-9

10

11

12

13

14 15 Makha Bucha Day 21 22

16

17

18

19

20

23

24

25

26

27

28

Courtesy of Fiddlesticks

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Chiang Rai Sunset

March
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1

Sun

Sat

10

11

12

13
National Elephant Day

14

15

16

17

18

19

20
March Equinox

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Courtesy of Naroge

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Salt Farm Petchaburi

April
Mon
1

Sun

Tue
2

Wed
3

Thu
4

Fri
5

Sat

6
Chakri Day

7 Chakri Day Substitution 14 Songkran 21

10

11

12

13 Songkran 20

15 Songkran 22

16 Songkran Substitution 23

17

18

19

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Courtesy of stubzi

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May
Mon Tue

Wed
1
National Labor Day

Sun

Thu
2

Fri
3

Sat

5
Coronation Day

10

11
Royal Ploughing Ceremony

12

13
Wisakha Bucha Day

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Courtesy of phuketrichard

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Northern Thailand

June
Mon Tue
3 4

Sun
1 2

Wed
5

Thu
6

Fri
7

Sat

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21
June Solstice

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Courtesy of fabianfred

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July
Mon
1
Mid Year Bank Holiday

Wed Thu
3 4

Sun

Tue
2

Fri
5

Sat

10

11
Asarnha Bucha Day

12
Wan Khao Phansa

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Courtesy of shaggy1969

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August
Mon Tue Wed Thu
1

Sun

Fri
2

Sat

10

11

12
H.M. the Queens Birthday

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Courtesy of KarlosInBKK

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Allied War Cemetary Kanchanaburi

September
Mon Tue
2 3

Sun
1

Wed
4

Thu
5

Fri
6

Sat

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23
September Equinox

24
Prince Mahidol Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

Courtesy of samuijimmy Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks in LamaiKoh Samui

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October
Mon Tue
1

Sun

Wed
2

Thu
3

Fri
4

Sat

7
Naga Fireball Festival 7-8 Est.

8
Wan Awk Phansa

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23
Chulalongkorn Day

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Courtesy of jetlsy

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November
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1

Sun

Sat

6 Loi Krathong

7 Loi Krathong 14

8 Loi Krathong 15

10

11

12

13

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Courtesy of angiud

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December
Mon Tue
2 3

Sun
1

Wed
4

Thu
5

Fri
6
H.M. the Kings Birthday

Sat

10 Constitution Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21
December Solstice

22

23

24
Christmas Eve

25
Christmas Day

26

27

28

29

30

31
New Years Eve

Holidays in Thailand
New Year's Day (Wan Khuen Pi Mai) Makha Bucha (Wan Makha Bucha) New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1. Makha Bucha is an important religious festival celebrated by Buddhists in Thailand on the full moon day of the third lunar month (this usually falls in February). Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month.The spiritual aims of the day are: not to commit any kind of sins; do only good; purify one's mind. Chakri Day commemorates the founding of the Chakri Dynasty in 1782 by King Rama I, known among Thais as Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great who assumed power on April 6. During the day, the nation pays respects to all of the Kings of the Dynasty. The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. Families and friends gather to celebrate by visiting temples, sprinkling water on Buddha images in reverence, and sprinkling water on each other's hands as an act of wishing good luck. The word Songkran is from the Sanskrit meaning the beginning of a new Solar Year, but nowadays Thailand celebrates the New Year on 31 December. International Labor Day is also celebrated as a national holiday in Thailand.

Chakri Memorial Day (Wan Chakkri)

Songkran (Wan Songkran)

Labor Day (Wan Raeng Ngan Haeng Chat) Coronation Day (Wan Chattra Mongkhon)

Commemorates the coronation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned as Rama IX, the 9th king of the Chakri dynasty, on 5th May 1950.

Vesak (Wan Wisakha Bucha)

Buddhist observance commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. Also observed as National Tree Day. It falls on the full moon of the 6th lunar month. Asalha Puja (known as Asanha Puja or Asarnha Bucha) is a buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. It commemorates the Buddhas first sermon in the Deer Park in Benares and the founding of the Buddhist sangha. The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons. This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist lent period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth. Known as "Khao Phansa", the Buddhist Lent is a time devoted to study and meditation. Commemorates the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit in 1932; also observed as National Mother's Day (Wan Mae Haeng Chat). Commemorates the passing of King Chulalongkorn in 1910. Piya Maharat is a nickname for the King, meaning the beloved great king. Commemorates the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1927. Also observed as National Day and National Father's Day. Commemorates the promulgation of the first permanent constitution in 1932. Final day of the Gregorian year. The day before the Western New Year day is always marked a national holiday.

Asalha Puja (Wan Asanha Bucha)

Beginning of Vassa (Wan Khao Phansa)

The Queen's Birthday (Wan Chaloem Phra Chonmaphansa Somdet Phranang Chao Phra Boromma Rachininat) Chulalongkorn Day (Wan Piya Maharat)

The King's Birthday (Wan Chaloem Phra Chonmaphansa Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yuhua) Constitution Day (Wan Rattha Thammanun) New Year's Eve (Wan Sin Pi)

Background Information
Weekend Public Holidays: Public holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday are observed on the Monday following. Clubs and other places of indulgence are closed on Buddhist Holidays and Royal Holidays like the King/Queen's birthday. Thai Lunar Calendar: The public holidays of Mahka Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asanha Bucha, and Khao Phansa are based on the Thai lunar calendar. Songkran: In 1948, the government officially fixed the 13th of April as Songkran Day and officially made it a public holiday. In 1989, the government with General Chatichai Choonhavan as the Prime Minister proclaimed the 12th of April, the 13th of April, and the 14th of April public holidays in order to allow people to return to their hometowns. In 1997, the government with General Chawalit Yongchaiyuth as the Prime Minister changed the dates of holidays on the occasion of Songkran festival to be the 13th of April, the 14th of April and the 15th of April in accordance with the days traditionally observed since time immemorial. Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day (usually during the 2nd week of May) is supposed to be a government holiday, however, no reliable source has been found to confirm how it may be predicted. This is an ancient Brahman ceremony, held under Royal patronage in Bangkok, which celebrates the beginning of the rice planting season. The day is selected by Brahmin Priests according to their astrological calendars. For commercial banks in the provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Satun, an extra bank holiday is given for Eidilfitri Day (End of Ramadan Day) as announced by the Sheikhul Islam Office, if the day does not coincide with the above mentioned holidays or Saturday and Sunday. Thailand International Codes TH and THA (2 and 3-letter ISO3166 codes) and .th (ICANN national top-level internet domain). Other Sources of Information The following specialized websites are also a good source of Thailand information and news: Bank of Thailand (Thailand central bank), ASI Hot Spots (security-related world events: terrorist threats, political strife, strikes, criminal activity, aviation incidents and health outbreaks), CIA World Factbook (Thailand maps, demographics and economic statistics), the IFES (information covering upcoming elections, referenda, electoral structures and voter participation in Thailand), and Wikipedia (includes Thailand commemorative dates that are not necessarily public holidays).

Summary of Holidays 1 January (Wednesday) New Year's Day 11 January (Saturday) National Children's Day 16 January (Thursday) Teacher's Day 31 January (Friday) Chinese Lunar New Year 1 February (Saturday) Second Day Chinese New Year 2 February (Sunday) Third Day Chinese New Year 14 February (Friday) Makha Bucha Day 14 February (Friday) Valentine's Day 20 March (Thursday) March equinox 6 April (Sunday) Chakri Day 7 April (Monday) Chakri Day Substitution 13 April (Sunday) Songkran 14 April (Monday) Songkran 15 April (Tuesday) Songkran 16 April (Wednesday) Songkran Substitution Day 1 May (Thursday) Labor Day 5 May (Monday) Coronation Day 13 May (Tuesday) Wisakha Bucha Day 21 June (Saturday) June Solstice 1 July (Tuesday) Mid Year Bank Holiday (Auditing) 11 July (Friday) Asalha Bucha 12 August (Tuesday) The Queen's Birthday (Mother's Day) 23 September (Tuesday) Septmber equinox 23 October (Thursday) Chulalongkorn Day 6-8 November (Thursday-Saturday) Loi Krathong 5 December (Friday) The King's Birthday (Father's Day) 10 December (Wednesday) Constitution Day 21 December (Sunday) December Solstice 24 December (Wednesday) Christmas Eve 25 December (Thursday) Christmas Day 31 December (Wednesday) New Year's Eve