| DATE |
ENGLISH NAME |
THAI NAME |
DESCRIPTION |
| 1 January (Saturday) |
New Year’s Day |
Wan Khun Pee Mai |
National Holiday; the beginning of the Western New Year is a national holiday in Thailand |
| 8 January (Saturday) |
Children’s Day |
Wan Dek Haeng Chat |
celebrated on the second Saturday in January, this day is marked by feasts organized by children |
| 14 January (Friday) |
National Forest Conservation Day |
Wan Anurak Sappayakon Pa Mai Khong Chat |
promotes the conservation of the nation’s forests and the work against deforestation |
| 16 January (Sunday) |
National Teacher’s Day |
Wan Khru |
a special day when students make merit for their teachers (who are highly regarded in Thailand) |
| 18 January (Tuesday) |
Elephant Duel Day |
Wan Yuttha Hatthi |
commemorates King Naresuan’s victorious elephant duel against the Burmese Uparaja in 1592; observed since 2007 it is also known as King Naresuan the Great Day |
| 25 January (Tuesday) |
Royal Thai Armed Forces Day |
Wan Kong Thap Thai |
used to commemorate the elephant duel, but research showed the date to be inaccurate; however, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day is still observed on this date |
| 2 February (Wednesday) |
Inventors’ Day |
Wan Nak Pradit |
commemorates the patent registration of King Bhumibol’s Chai Phatthana paddle wheel aerator in 1993. |
| 2 February (Wednesday) |
National Agriculture Day |
Wan Kaset Haeng Chat |
|
| 3 February (Thursday) |
Veterans’ Day |
Wan Thahan Phan Suek |
commemorates the founding of the War Veterans Organization of Thailand; ceremonies held at Bangkok’s Victory Monument |
| 3 February (Thursday) |
Chinese New Year |
Wan Trut Chin |
with 10 percent of Thailand’s population having ancestors who emigrated from China in the last century, the next three days are marked by celebrations throughout the country; some businesses may be closed but it is not an official national holiday |
| 4 February (Friday) |
Chinese New Year |
Pee Mai Chin |
|
| 5 February (Saturday) |
Chinese New Year |
Pee Mai Chin |
|
| 14 February (Monday) |
Valentine’s Day |
Wan Walenthai |
a very popular day in Thailand for sending flowers and small gifts, and for marriage registrations |
| 18 February (Friday) |
Magha Puja |
Makha Bucha |
National Holiday; celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon to his disciples |
| 24 February (Thursday) |
National Artists’ Day |
Wan Sinlapin Haeng Chat |
commemorates the birth of King Rama II |
| 31 March (Thursday) |
King Nangklao Memorial Day |
Wan Thi Raluek Phra Bat Somdet Phra Nangklao Chao Yuhua |
commemorates the birth of King Rama III |
| 1 April (Friday) |
Civil Service Day |
|
commemorates the enactment of the first Civil Service Act in 1928 |
| 2 April (Saturday) |
Thai Heritage Conservation Day |
Wan Anurak Moradok Thai |
commemorates the birth of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn |
| 6 April (Wednesday) |
Chakri Day |
Wan Chakri |
National Holiday; commemorates the founding of the current dynasty by Rama I; the Royal Pantheon — which displays statues of former kings — in Wat Phra Kaeo’s grounds, Bangkok, is open to the public on this day only |
| 13 April (Wednesday) |
Thai New Year |
Songkran (Wan Maha Songkran) |
National Holiday; the traditional Thai new year, celebrated as a three-day water festival |
| 14 April (Thursday) |
Thai New Year |
Songkran (Wan Nao) |
National Holiday; the traditional Thai new year, celebrated as a three-day water festival |
| 15 April (Friday) |
Thai New Year |
Songkran |
National Holiday; the traditional Thai new year, celebrated as a three-day water festival |
| 30 April (Saturday) |
Consumer Protection Day |
Wan Khumkhrong Phu Borophok |
commemorates the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act in 1979 |
| 1 May (Sunday) |
National Labour Day |
Wan Raeng Ngan Haeng Chat |
National Holiday; International Labor Day is a national holiday in Thailand |
| 5 May (Thursday) |
Coronation Day |
Wan Chattra Mongkhon |
National Holiday; celebrates the day in 1949 when Rama IX was crowned |
| 13 May (Friday) |
Royal Ploughing Ceremony |
Wan Phuetcha Mongkhon |
Government Holiday; held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok (near Wat Phra Kaew), this important event singals the start of the rice-planting season |
| 17 May (Tuesday) |
Vesak |
Wan Visakha Bucha |
National Holiday; the holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and entry into nirvana of the Buddha |
| 16 June (Thursday) |
Wai Kruh Day |
Wan Wai Kruh |
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; always held on a Thursday in mid-May |
| 26 June (Sunday) |
Sunthorn Phu Day |
Wan Sunthorn Phu |
Thailand’s highest-regarded poet is honored by poetry recitals, plays, and puppet shows throughout the country |
| 1 July (Friday) |
National Scout Day |
Wan Luk Suea Haeng Chat |
commemorates the founding of scouting in Thailand by King Vajiravudh in 1911 |
| 1 July (Friday) |
Mid-Year Day |
Wan Yut Klang Pi Thanakhan |
Bank Holiday |
| 15 July (Friday) |
Asalha Puja |
Asanha Bucha |
Theravada Buddhist public holiday |
| 16 July (Saturday) |
Buddhist Lent (Vassa) |
Wan Khao Phansa |
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 |
| 29 July (Friday) |
National Thai Language Day |
Wan Phasa Thai Haeng Chat |
a day established to stress the importance of Thai people speaking their language correctly |
| 12 August (Friday) |
Queen’s Birthday |
Wan Mae Heng Chat |
National Holiday; also celebrated in Thailand as Mother’s Day |
| 18 August (Thursday) |
National Science Day |
Wan Witthayasat Haeng Chat |
commemorates King Mongkut’s prediction and observation of a total solar eclipse in 1868 |
| 20 September (Friday) |
National Youth Day |
Wan Yaowachon Haeng Chat |
marks the royal birthdays of both King Chulalongkorn and King Ananda Mahidol; they each ascended the throne at a young age |
| 22 September (Thursday) |
Mid-Autumn Festival |
|
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 |
| 24 September (Saturday) |
Mahidol Day |
Wan Mahidon |
commemorates the death of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the “Father of Thai Modern Medicine” |
| 12 October (Wednesday) |
End Of Buddhist Lent Day |
Wan Ok Phansa |
Theravada Buddhist event marking the end of the three-month rain retreat for monks |
| 13 October (Thursday) |
National Police Day |
Wan Tamruat |
honors Thailand’s law enforcement agencies |
| 21 October (Friday) |
National Nursing Day |
Wan Phayaban Haeng Chat |
commemorates the birth of Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother |
| 23 October (Sunday) |
Chulalongkorn Day |
Wan Piya Maharat |
National Holiday; celebrates the birthday of King Rama V |
| 10 November (Thursday) |
Loy Krathong Festival |
Wan Loy Krathong |
religious festival observed on the full moon of the 12th lunar month by floating a krathong boat in nearby rivers or ponds |
| 25 November (Friday) |
Vajiravudh Day |
Wan Wachirawut |
commemorates the death of Rama VI in 1925 |
| 1 December (Thursday) |
Damrong Rajanubhab Day |
Wan Damrong Rachanuphap |
commemorates the death of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab |
| 4 December (Sunday) |
Thai Environment Day |
Wan Singwaetlom Thai |
observed since 1991 |
| 5 December (Monday) |
H.M. The King’s Birthday |
Wan Chaloem Phra Chonmaphansa Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yuhua |
National Holiday; also celebrated as National Day and Father’s Day |
| 10 December (Saturday) |
Constitution Day |
Wan Rattha Thammanun |
National Holiday; commemorates the date in 1932 when Thailand was granted its first constitution |
| 15 December (Thursday) |
National Sports Day |
Wan Kila Haeng Chat |
commemorates King Bhumibol’s gold medal in sailing at the 1967 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games |
| 25 December (Sunday) |
Christmas Day |
Wan Khrit Mat |
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 |
| 28 December (Wednesday) |
King Taksin The Great Day |
Wan Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat |
commemorates the coronation of King Taksin in 1768 |
| 31 December (Saturday) |
New Year’s Eve |
Wan Sin Pi |
National Holiday; the day before the Western New Year’s Day is always a national holiday in Thailand |
