Andys Real Guide to Thailand

Thailand being the relatively laid-back country that it is holidays are a big thing and you will do well not try to get any business done on or near these dates. Whilst many businesses appear to operate normally the staff have other things on their mind.

If you are planning on traveling around these date you should book transport/accomodation well advance.

On many holidays the sale of alchohol is prohibited.

Several holidays shown below are actually taken from the now obsolete lunar calendar - this means the precise dates will vary from year-to-year.

National Holidays
Date (2000)	Name	Notes
January 1	New Year's Day
Feb. 8, 2001 (lunar calendar)	Magha Puja Day	Commemorates when 1,250 of Buddha's disciples spontaneously gathered to hear the Buddha preach. Merit-making ceremonies at temples, candlelight processions at night.
April 6, all years	Chakri Day	Commemorates the founding of the current royal lineage in 1782
April 13+, all years	Songkran	Thai Buddhist New Year, usually a longer holiday than the official one day. Most known to farangs by the fun-loving water-throwing on each other in the streets.
May 1, all years	Labor Day
May 5, all years	Coronation Day	The anniversary of the King's coronation.
May 7, 2001 (lunar calendar)	Visakha Puja Day	Commemorates the birth, Enlightenment and death of the Buddha. This is the holiest of holydays.
July 5, 2001 (lunar calendar)	Asalha Puja Day	Commemorates the Buddha's first sermon to his first five disciples.
July 6, 2001 (lunar calendar)	Khao Phansaa (Buddhist Lent)	The start of a 3 month period of the rainy season when monks stay inside the wats, and when young boys enter the monkhood.
August 12, all years	HM the Queen's Birthday National Mother's Day	National Mother's Day in Thailand coincides with the birthday of Queen Sirikit
October 23, all years	Chulalongkorn Day	Commemorates the death of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910), the most revered past king.
November 26, 2004 (lunar calendar)	Loy Krathong	Celebrates the end of the rainy season. Bit like the western harvest festivals.
December 5, all years	HM the King's Birthday National Father's Day	National Father's Day in Thailand coincides with the birthday of King Bhumibol
December 10, all years	Constitution Day
December 31, all years	New Years Eve