| Public
Holiday |
July |
August |
| Thailand
National Holidays 2008 |
| Date |
Day |
Holiday |
| 01 January |
Tuesday |
New Year's Day |
| 21 Feb |
Thursday |
Makha Bucha |
| 06 April |
Sunday |
Chakri Memorial Day |
| 13-15 April |
Sun - Tues |
Songkran Day |
| 01 May |
Thursday |
National Labour Day |
| 05 May |
Saturday |
Coronation Day |
| 09 May |
Wednesday |
Ploughing Day |
| 19 May |
Monday |
Visakha Bucha Day |
| 17 July |
Thursday |
Asarnha Bucha Day |
| 18 July |
Friday |
Buddhist Lent Day |
| 12 August |
Tuesday |
H.M. The Queen's Birthday |
| 23 October |
Thursday |
Chulalongkorn Memorial Day |
| 5 December |
Friday |
H.M. The King's Birthday |
| 10 December |
Wednesday |
Constitution Day |
| 31 December |
Wednesday |
New Year's Eve |
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| * The following Wednesday will be a public holiday |
|
Additional
Important Days
(but not a national holiday) |
|
10 February 2008 (Sunday) Chinese New Year
The beginning of the Chinese lunar year is celebrated in the
Chinatowns of every city throughout Thailand. Some businesses
close for the day, but it is not a national holiday. |
|
12 December 2008 (Friday) Loy Krathong
Not a national holiday, but an evening when Thais pay respect
to the godess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings
on any and all waterways around the kingdom. |
Thailand
Holidays
A brief overviw of Thailand's national holidays:
Makha Bucha Day: Celebrated on the day of the new moon
of the third lunar month. Commemorates the day nearly 3,000 years
ago that Buddha taught 1,250 selected monks the doctrines of Buddhism.
Chakri Day: Celebrates the founding of the current
dynasty, Rama I of which the current reigning King Bhumibol is the
ninth monarch.
Songkran: The traditional Thai New Year (solar).
Celebrated as a water festival Songkran is one of Thailand's biggest
holidays and marketed overseas as must see.
Coronation Day: Celebrating
King Bhumibol's coronation in 1949.
Visakha Bucha: The holiest Buddhist holiday. Celebrates
Buddha's birth, attained enlightenment and accesion into nirvana.
Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent): Commenorates the
beginning of Buddhist 'lent'. Coincides with the onset on the rainy
season, monks are ordained and withdraw to their temple while rain
brings forth new life.
Queen's Birthday: HM the Queen's birthday. Also
serves Mother's Day.
Chulalongkorn Day: Commenorates the passing of
Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) one of Thailand's most respected kings.
King's
Birthday: HM the King's birthday. Also serves as
Father's Day.
Constitution Day: Marks the day in 1932 when the
country was granted its first constitution transforming the country
from an Absolute Monarchy to Constitutional Monarchy.
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