Check your calendars! As we head into 2023, it's handy to know about the upcoming Thai holidays for the year. Thailand has many holidays throughout 2023, though some are just general observances while others are public holidays where government offices (like immigration) and other businesses are closed. Here's a quick snapshot of the major holidays next year.
| DATE | DAY | NAME | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Sunday | New Year's Day | National holiday |
| 2 Jan | Monday | Day off for New Year's Day | National holiday |
| 14 Jan | Saturday | National Children's Day | Observance |
| 16 Jan | Monday | Teachers' Day | Observance |
| 22-24 Jan | Sunday | Lunar (Chinese) New Year | Observance |
| 14 Feb | Tuesday | Valentine's Day | Observance |
| 6 Mar | Monday | Makha Bucha | National holiday |
| 6 Apr | Thursday | Chakri Day | National holiday |
| 13-16 Apr | Thursday | Songkran | National holiday |
| 1 May | Monday | Labour Day | Bank holiday |
| 4 May | Thursday | Coronation Day | National holiday |
| 11 May | Thursday | Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day (Tentative Date) | Government Holiday |
| 3 Jun | Saturday | Visakha Bucha | National holiday |
| 3 Jun | Saturday | Queen Suthida's Birthday | National holiday |
| 5 Jun | Monday | Day off for Visakha Bucha | National holiday |
| 5 Jun | Monday | Day off for Queen Suthida's Birthday | National holiday |
| 28 Jul | Friday | King Vajiralongkorn's Birthday | National holiday |
| 1 Aug | Tuesday | Buddhist Lent Day | National holiday |
| 2 Aug | Wednesday | Khao Phansa Day | |
| 12 Aug | Saturday | The Queen's Birthday | National holiday |
| 14 Aug | Monday | Day off for The Queen's Birthday | National holiday |
| 13 Oct | Friday | Anniversary of the Death of King Bhumibol | National holiday |
| 23 Oct | Monday | Chulalongkorn Day | National holiday |
| 31 Oct | Tuesday | Halloween | Observance |
| 27 Nov | Monday | Chiang Mai's Yi Peng Lantern Festival | Observance |
| 28 Nov | Tuesday | Loy Krathong | Observance |
| 5 Dec | Tuesday | King Bhumibol's Birthday/Father's Day | National holiday |
| 10 Dec | Sunday | Constitution Day | National holiday |
| 11 Dec | Monday | Substitute Holiday for Constitution Day | National holiday |
| 24 Dec | Sunday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| 25 Dec | Monday | Christmas Day | Observance |
| 31 Dec | Sunday | New Year's Eve | National holiday |
Thai holidays that fall on a weekend are generally observed with a day off the following Monday, such as Queen Suthida's birthday, which falls on a Saturday, the same day as the Buddha Day Visakha Bucha.
Speaking of Buddha Days, there are several important Buddha Day holidays throughout the year. On these holiday days, banks and businesses stay open, but government offices close. What tends to affect tourists and expats most though is that the sale and consumption of alcohol are forbidden on these days. Buddha Days coincide with the Full Moon, so the famous party in Koh Phangan is delayed a day so that drinking is allowed.
Makha Bucha falls on March 6 in 2023 and is the commemoration of a sermon Buddha gave where 1,250 disciples gathered spontaneously. Visakha Bucha is on June 3 and is the most important Buddha day. It marks the day Buddha was born, the day he reached enlightenment 35 years later, and then, 45 years later, the day he died and entered Nirvana. Finally, Asahna Bucha Day and Khao Phansa Day, also known as Buddhist Lent, falls on August 1 and 2 in 2023.
The Buddha Day of Visakha Bucha Day or Wan Pra Yai
Many Thai holidays exist around the Royal Family in Thailand, marking the days of the births, deaths, and coronations of family members. In Thailand, Mother's Day is celebrated on Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday, August 12, and Father's Day on the birthday of the late, beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej on December 5.
Some western holidays are unofficially or semi-officially observed in Thailand. Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine's Day have grown in popularity in the kingdom, as has New Year's Eve on December 31. Of course, locals and expats also rejoice in the festival of Songkran, April 13 to 16, the celebration of the Thai New Year. The sights of Thailand's national water fight have become iconic worldwide as happy celebrants splash water and sometimes flour or talcum powder with glee.
Another world-famous Thai holiday comes November 27 and 28. Loy Krathong, on the 28th, is a festival where people gather along Thailand's riverbanks to float banana trunks (Krathong), typically shaped like a lotus and decorated with flowers, incense, candles, personal items, and craft-store buys. For some people, however, it's a day to pray and give gratitude to the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, as well as to ask for forgiveness for using too much water or for polluting the water as they float their banana trunks into the rivers.
PHOTO: Releasing Krathong during Loy Krathong festival. (via salineechot/freepik)
Loy Krathong is often confused with the Yi Peng Lantern Festival which coincides, this year on the 27th. The iconic site of thousands of floating lanterns, drifting together into the sky with candlelights flickering may be one of the most famous holiday sights to come out of Thailand.
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