Holidays in thailand 2008

1 January (Tuesday) New Year’s Day Wan Khun Pee Mai วันขื้นปีใหม่ National Holiday; the beginning of the Western New Year is a national holiday in Thailand

12 January (Saturday) Children’s Day วันเด็กแห่งชาติ celebrated on the second Saturday in January, this day is marked by feasts organized by children

16 January (Wednesday) Teacher’s Day วันครู a special day when students make merit for their teachers (who are highly regarded in Thailand)

25 January (Friday) Thai Army Day วันกองทัพไทย marked by military parades and the King
reviewing the army

7 February (Thursday) Chinese New Year Wan Trut Chin วันตรุษจีน with 10 percent of Thailand’s population having ancestors who emigrated from China in the last century, this day is marked by celebrations throughout the country; some businesses may be closed but it is not an official national holiday

14 February (Thursday) Valentine’s Day วันวาเลนไทน์ a very popular day in Thailand for sending flowers and small gifts, and for marriage registrations

21 February (Thursday) Magha Puja Makha Bucha วันมาฆาบูชา National Holiday; celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon to his disciples

6 April (Sunday) Chakri Day วันที่ระลึกมหาจักรีบรมราชวงศ National Holiday; commemorates the founding of the current dynasty by Rama I

13 April (Sunday) Thai New Year Songkran วันสงกรานต์ National Holiday; the traditional Thai new year, celebrated as a three-day water festival

14 April (Monday) Thai New Year Songkran วันสงกรานต์ National Holiday; the traditional Thai new year, celebrated as a three-day water festival

15 April (Tuesday) Thai New Year Songkran วันสงกรานต์ National Holiday; the traditional Thai new year, celebrated as a three-day water festival

1 May (Thursday) National Labour Day วันแรงงานแห่งชาต National Holiday; International Labor Day is a national holiday in Thailand

5 May (Monday) Coronation Day วันฉัตรมงคล National Holiday; celebrates the day in 1949 when Rama IX was crowned

9 May (Friday) Royal Ploughing Ceremony วันพืชมงคล Government Holiday; held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok (near Wat Phra Kaew), this important event singals the start of the rice-planting season

19 May (Monday) Vesak Visakha Bucha วันวิสาขบูชา National Holiday; the holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and entry into nirvana of the Buddha

12 June (Thursday) Wai Kruh Day Wan Kruh วันครู (’Day of the Teacher’) students collectively pay respect to their teachers by giving a golden tray with three kinds of flowers - the ixora, in Thai called ‘kem’, the flower of the ‘makeua’ or eggplant, and a lotus

26 June (Thursday) Sunthorn Phu Day Sunthorn Phu (สุนทรภ) Day Thailand’s highest-regarded poet is honored by poetry recitals, plays, and puppet shows throughout the country

1 July (Tuesday) Mid-Year Day n/a Bank Holiday

17 July (Thursday) Asalha Puja Asanha Bucha วันอาสาฬหบูชา Theravada Buddhist public holiday

18 July (Friday) Buddhist Lent (Vassa) Khao Phansa วันเข้าพรรษา National Holiday; 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

12 August (Tuesday) Queen’s Birthday Wan Mae Heng Chat วันแม่แห่ชาติ National Holiday; also celebrated in Thailand as Mother’s Day

22 September (Monday) Mid-Autumn Festival เทศกาลไหว้พระจันทร์ also known as the Moon Cake Festival, this Chinese holiday is celebrated with a special kind of sweet cake filled with sesame seeds, ground lotus seeds, and eggs

14 October (Tuesday) End Of Buddhist Lent Day วันปวารณา ออกพรรษา Theravada Buddhist event marking the end of the three-month rain retreat for monks

23 October (Thursday) Chulalongkorn Day วันปิยมหาราช National Holiday; celebrates the birthday of King Rama V

13 November (Thursday) Loy Krathong Festival วันลอยกระทง religious festival observed on the full moon of the 12th lunar month by floating a krathong boat in nearby rivers or ponds

5 December (Friday) H.M. The King’s Birthday วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว National Holiday; also celebrated as National Day and Father’s Day

10 December (Wednesday) Constitution Day วันพระราชทานรัฐธรรมบูญ National Holiday; commemorates the date in 1932 when Thailand was granted its first constitution

25 December (Thursday) Christmas Day วันคริสต์มาส while not an official public holiday in Thailand, it is widely celebrated by the Thai people (who love any excuse to have fun) as well as foreign workers and tourists

31 December (Wednesday) New Year’s Eve วันสิ้นปี National Holiday; the day before the Western New Year’s Day is always a national holiday in Thailand

Public / Traditional Holidays In Thailand Year 2008