Thailand is a nation of rich culture and traditions, with a myriad of holidays and festivals. They also celebrate a number of familiar Western holidays. Thai holidays offer a wide variety of celebrations – some commemorate significant events in the country’s history, while others are Buddhist religious observances.
Fantastic cuisine and local performances are also sure to please any tourists soaking up the celebrations. Thai holidays attract visitors from all over the world, all people flocking to see the grand spectacles and absorb the local culture of Thailand.
Below are seven important Thai holidays. This list includes public holidays, national holidays included, along with other key festivals and events:
1. Chulalongkorn Day (October 23rd)
This important Thai holiday commemorates the life of King Chulalongkorn. The holiday is celebrated every October 23rd, the anniversary of his birth in 1868. King Chulalongkorn is one of the most important figures in Thai history, remembered for his contributions to the modernization of Thailand. He established religious freedom within the country. He also played a major role in maintaining the independence of Thailand in a time of rampant European colonialism.
During this holiday, many visit the countless memorials to Chulalongkorn and leave offerings there in his honor. It is one of the most famous Thai holidays in the country.
2. Coronation Day (May 5th)
Another Thai holiday celebrating a king, Coronation Day is held every May 5th to commemorate the coronation of the current King of Thailand, King Bhumibol. The king was coronated on May 5th, 1946, and is currently the longest-reigning monarch in the world. He took the throne following the death of his brother, and was established as the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty. In Thai, the holiday is known as ‘Wan Chattra Mongkhon’.
The Thai holiday involves three days of celebrations. On May 3rd, a service is held at the Grand Palace by Buddhist monks to honor the Chakri dynasty. Throughout the service, King Bhumibol presents awards to people who he deems to have made contributions to the country.
3. Visakha Puja Holiday
This Buddhist religious holiday is sometimes called ‘Buddha’s Birthday’. The Thai holiday celebrates what are considered to be the three major events in the life of the Buddha. The events celebrated are the Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment, and his death. The holiday is celebrated in Thailand and by many Buddhists around the globe.
The name of the Thai holiday comes from the Sanskrit name of the lunar month in which the holiday falls. One of the principal ways of celebrating Visakha Puja is by making special effort to help the less fortunate, as a way of honoring the legacy of the Buddha. The Buddha once said that following his teachings was the greatest homage to him.
4. Constitution Day
Constitution Day is held every year on December 10th, and these Thai holidays commemorate the reform of Thailand into a constitutional monarchy. Before their constitution, Thailand was an absolute monarchy in which the king held supreme authority over all of his subjects.
Thailand has had a number of different charters and constitutions governing the nation over its’ long history, with many dating back to when the country was still called Siam. Constitution Day celebrates the signing of the 1932 constitution by King Prajadhipok. The constitution replaced a temporary charter and affirmed that the ultimate sovereign power of the nation belonged to the people, not the monarchy.
5. Loy Kratong Holiday
The festival of Loy Kratong is held every year on the night of the year’s 12th full moon. Also known in English as ‘The Festival of Lights’, the name is roughly translated as ‘to float a basket’. Traditionally, woven baskets were made and floated down the river. The baskets are decorated with flowers and leaves, and are meant to honor the Goddess of Water.
People also place hair clippings on the basket to symbolize letting go of past transgressions. While the baskets are still made, celebrations also include fireworks and pageants to select the ‘Nopphamat Queen’.
6. Buddhist Lent
Buddhist Lent is an observance held by Buddhists in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Known in Thailand as ‘Wan Khao Phansa’, Buddhist Lent lasts for a three-month period during the rainy season. The Thai holiday is attributed to the Buddha himself. During the rainy season, monks would often trample rice sprouts, much to the farmers’ discontent.
To solve this, the Buddha decided that all monks would remain in the temple from the first waning moon day of the 8th lunar month to the 15th waxing moon day of the 11th lunar month.
7. Western New Year Holiday (December 31st)
Thailand is known to celebrate the New Year three times over. They celebrate the Western New Year on January 1st, the Chinese New Year, and the traditional Thai New Year. Their Western New Year celebrations involve many of the staples of the holiday that we are familiar with.
On the night of December 31st, there are various countdown events hosted across the country. Festivities include traditional Thai dance performances, modern pop concerts, and the New Year’s classic, fireworks. The holiday also includes the release of ‘sky lanterns’ which are paper lanterns that fly with candles.