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| Important
Festivals in Phuket |
| Thailand
National Holidays 2010 |
| Date |
Day |
Holiday |
| 01 January |
Friday |
New Year's Day |
| 28 February |
Sunday |
Makha Bucha |
| 06 April |
Tuesday |
Chakri Day |
| 13-15 April |
Tuesday- Thur |
Songkran Day |
| 01 May |
Saturday |
National Labour Day |
| 05 May |
Wednesday |
Coronation Day |
| 28 May |
Friday |
Vesak Day |
| 27 July |
Tuesday |
Khao Phansa |
| 12 August |
Thursday |
Queen's Birthday |
| 23 October |
Saturday |
Chulalongkorn Day |
| 05 December |
Sunday |
HM King's Birthday |
| 10 December |
Friday |
Constitution Day |
| 31 December |
Friday |
New Year's Eve |
| * The following Monday will be a public holiday |
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Additional
Important Days
(but not a national holiday) |
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14 Febuary 2010
(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. |
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20 November 2010
(Saturday) Loy Kratong
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. |
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| Important
Phuket Festivals & Events July & August
2010 |
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July Festivals |
Six Senses Phuket Race Week |
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Dates :
July 21 - July 25 , 2010
Place : Chalong Bay, Phuket .
Description: A week of exciting,
international-standard yacht racing off Phuket’s East Coast. Plenty
of social activities throughout the week. Now in its seventh year,
33 boats entered the event in 2009 with approximately 400 participants,
as entrants from around the world helped maintain Six Senses Phuket
Raceweek’s reputation as the most exciting and fastest-growing Regatta
in Asia.
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Khao Phansa |
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Dates :
July 27 , 2010
Place : Saraburi& Ubon Ratchathani,
Phuket .
Description: With the arrival
of the eighth lunar month in July, Thai Buddhists all over the kingdom
celebrate Khao Phansa, one of the most important events in the religious
calendar. Celebrations are held in Buddhist temples all over Thailand,
but the most colorful can be found in Saraburi and Ubon Ratchathani.
'Khao Phansa', in Thai, refers to the beginning of the Buddhist
Lent. During this time, Buddhist monks are restricted to their temples
for a period of three months. Young men over 20 years, who have
not yet ordained as monks, may take this opportunity to enter the
monkhood to observe Buddhist teachings.
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August Festivals |
Por Tor Festival |
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Dates :
August 01 - August 30 , 2010
Place : chinatown, Phuket .
Description: This Chinese ancestor worship festival takes place in the seventh Chinese lunar month, which is when the Chinese believe that the spirits of the dead are released from the underworld. The Chinese communities in Phuket make food offerings to appease the hungry spirits and to pay their respects. Turtle-shaped cakes are a popular offering as turtles represent longevity. The worshippers believe that these turtle cakes will help prolong their own life. Events take place around Phuket's Chinese shrines at different times over a 15-day period. Like most other festivals Chinese Phuket, there is a lot of food, as well as stage performances.
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HM The Queen's Birthday Celebrations |
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Dates :
August 12 , 2010
Place : Ratchadamnoen ,
Phuket .
Description: In honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday, coloured lights and decorations adorn Bangkok's Ratchadamnoen Avenue and the streets around the Grand Palace. Head to the Sanam Luang field for a huge fun festival of music and Thai culture.
Royalty in Thailand is a serious affair. Failing to show respect for the Queen will do nothing to endear you to ordinary Thai people. Pictures of the royal couple grace many a mantelpiece and to dishonour them in word or deed is an activity bordering on the illegal
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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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