Holidays and Festivals in Thailand: What to Know and Where to Go
Thailand is a country with a rich and diverse culture, and one of the best ways to experience it is by joining the locals in their celebrations. Throughout the year, there are many holidays and festivals in Thailand that showcase the country’s religious, historical, and seasonal aspects. Whether you want to witness the colorful water splashing of Songkran, the solemn candlelight processions of Visakha Bucha, or the dazzling fireworks of New Year’s Eve, there is a festival for everyone in Thailand. In this post, we will introduce you to some of the most popular and unique festivals in Thailand that you should not miss!
January
New Year's Day (Western New Year)
January 1: Although Thailand is a Southeast Asian country, foreigners have settled and traveled quite a bit, therefore Thailand celebrates New Year’s with gusto, especially in Pattaya, where the amusement parks are bustling day and night.
Teacher ceremony in Thailand
January 16: This is a teacher's holiday in Thailand, Similar to Teacher's Day in Vietnam, this festival in Thai is wăn khruu.
Chinese New Year in Thailand
This is not a big Thai holiday, but it is known as Chinese New Year. It is held in January or February according to the lunar calendar.
Although it is not the New Year of the Thai, at this time, the street is still dyed red because the Chinese people who have settled here celebrate it with great magnificence and joy. The Chinese New Year in Thailand will feature fireworks displays, dragon dances, kung fu performances, food parties and Chinese music.
Thailand Children's Day
Held on the 2nd Saturday in January. Thailand considers children the country’s most important resource, so they use this day to honor and organize fun activities for children.
During Thailand Children's Day, children do not have to buy tickets or they receive a discount when visiting the entertainment venues such as museums, zoos, and amusement parks, and when using public transportation. Interesting activities are held everywhere for kids.
February
Makha Bucha Day
In February, the most prominent celebration is the Thai Buddhist festival Makha Bucha. This festival is organized in February or March (based on the full moon day of March on the Thai lunar calendar).
Here people offer prayers, support monks, meditate and even sleep in temples, with a candle-stick procession held after sunset. Wat Lat Phra in Bangkok is a great place to experience this holiday.
Valentine's Day
February 14th: This is Valentine's Day; in the Thai language it is Wan Summerèng Khoam. On this day, people sell flowers on the streets of Bangkok. In Pattaya, Valentine’s Day is a big event for foreign tourists.
Chiang Mai Flowers Festival
Chiang Mai, the 'Rose of the North', is renowned for its vibrant festivals which celebrate its culture and natural beauty. In particular, Chiang Mai's flower festivals are a delight for both local and international visitors alike. Every year, in February, the city turns into a floral wonderland as locals and tourists gather to enjoy these colourful celebrations. The main Chiang Mai flower festival is the Flower Festival of Doi Suthep and Pui, where people gather to witness beautiful parades of floats decorated with flowers, as well as a variety of cultural performances. During the festival, local vendors set up stalls selling beautiful flower arrangements that locals can take home or give away as gifts.
Source: 30 And A Wake Up Youtube Channel
March
Thai elephant day
This is a long-standing Thai holiday. Every March 13, Thailand's mighty elephants are provided with fruits and sugarcane in parks, zoos, and anywhere they are found. They are also given blessing rituals by Buddhist monks to bring good luck.
April
Chakri Day:
This is an important Thai holiday occurring on April 6, commemorating the founding of the Chakri Dynasty in 1782, when Bangkok became the capital. On this day, the banks, government offices and schools are closed. The Royal Family holds religious ceremonies to commemorate all the kings of the dynasties in the past.
Songkran water festival
One of the most famous festivals in Thailand, which is held from April 13 to 15 to mark the new year in Thailand, Songkran is an experience not to be missed. Festivals include water fights everywhere. This day attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world flocking to enjoy this festival, everyone in the streets to splash each other with the belief of bringing luck.
May
Labor Day
A holiday in Thailand, International Labor Day falls on May 1. At this time, most private businesses and banks are closed, with only a few government agencies remaining open.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
The ceremony is organized in early May, the date determined by Buddhist monks, and from this date, the rice-growing season is officially begun. There is a representative of the harvest lord and he will be offered a ceremonial sword and ring by the king at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok to process the ceremony.
Visakha Bucha Day
A Thai Buddhist festival which takes place in May or June (following the lunar calendar) to celebrate the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha. The devotees worship at the temples and obey the five Buddhist precepts.
June
Sale season in Thailand
Although this is not a big Thai holiday, the sale season in Thailand is very interesting for many people. It is held from mid-June to mid-August. At this big event, centers, shops, hotels, spas, restaurants, airlines, markets, and entertainment centers all actively participate to attract customers with many discounts.
Fruit day in Chantaburi
The highlight of Fruit Day is the display and sale of Chantaburi's delicious fruits. Local farmers bring their best fruits to be sold at the event, often with great deals for those in attendance. Many popular Thai fruits are available, including durian, rambutan, mangosteen, tamarind and lychee. Fruits are also available in cans, juices and even jams that can be taken home as souvenirs or gifts.
Hua Hin Jazz festival
The Hua Hin Jazz Festival is an annual event that takes place in Thailand's beautiful coastal city of Hua Hin. The festival brings together jazz artists from around the world to share their music and performances with a global audience. From local Thai jazz bands to well-known international acts, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Attendees can wander through the streets and witness performances from both established and up-and-coming jazz musicians. There are also food stands offering unique Thai dishes, drinks stalls with local beers and cocktails.
July
Asana Bucha Day
Another important festival of Thai Buddhism, usually held in mid-July or August, is the day the Buddha gave his first sermon in India. Buddhists pray at the temple and do merit, and candle processions are held in some places.
Thai Candle Festival
The Thai Candle Festival coincides with the Asanha festival, which lasts 2 days with a large parade of candles. The most famous city for this festival is Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast of Thailand, where artists in the world come to participate in a candle carving contest.
August
Mother's Day
This is a famous Thai holiday, the birthday of Queen Sirikit on August 12 and Mother's Day across Thailand. In addition to doing merit, on this day people also decorate many lights, flowers and fireworks.
Thai ghost festival
Thailand Ghost Festival held in August, lasts for 3 days and recreates the legend about a party that the dead and the living want to attend. A parade with many people disguised as ghosts is held on the first day. There are also music contests and shows on the second day and Buddhist religious ceremonies on the last day.
September
Mid-Autumn Festival in Thailand
Also known as the Thai Moon Festival, it is celebrated on the full moon of the August lunar calendar. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in Thailand, all old and young people must attend the moon worship, everyone will gather together at the altar of Bodhisattva and eight buddhas to pray for good things for their families.
There will be a lot of confectionery fruits consumed on the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, but peaches and moon cakes are indispensable. Thais believe that eight buddhas will bring peaches to the Bodhisattva, and Bodhisattvas will bless them.
Kin Jay Vegetarian Festival
From late September to mid-October, this Thai vegetarian festival honors the 9 Taoist emperors by cleansing the body and spirit by eliminating meat, fish, alcohol and drugs. Shops hang yellow flags and wear yellow aprons to inform customers that they serve vegetarian food.
October
The anniversary of King Chulalongkorn's death
October 23 is considered a national holiday when Thailand honors the day that King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) passed away by arranging flowers on his memorial and especially his statues on horseback.
Halloween
This occasion is not a Thai holiday, however there is a large number of foreigners and foreign tourists in Thailand at this time, and many bars, restaurants and hotels hold costume parties, dinners, or live music on Halloween night.
November
Yi Peng Lantern Festival
The Yi Peng Festival, also known as the Chiang Mai sky lantern festival organized in Chiang Mai, is one of the most famous festivals in Thailand. On these nights of the festival, people deliver thousands of paper lanterns with candles into the sky. According to the Thai Lanna calendar, the Chiang Mai sky lantern festival will be held on the full moon of the 12th lunar month every year.
Loy Krathong festival
This may be the most beautiful festival in the country, during which people drop small banana leaf boats ornamented with flowers and a candle into a pond, lake or river as a symbolic way to clean off their bad past. The thousands of flashing lights suspended in the water at this festival are truly magical sights.
December
Father's Day
December 5 marks the birthday anniversary of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and is a major Thai holiday. This event is a chance for Thai people to celebrate the birthday of their beloved, whom they call their father.
Christmas
Thailand's Christmas is the peak holiday season in Thailand and hotels are always fully booked. The malls are filled with Christmas emblems and sparkling decorations everywhere.
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