Thailand Calendar in 2025 - Full List of Public Holidays, Observances And Celebrations

An Overview of Holidays in Thailand

When organizing your journey to Thailand, it is essential to monitor the significant national holidays observed nationwide.

Despite the closure of businesses and government offices on public holidays, tourist attractions and shops remain operational to serve you. Prepare to endure traffic congestion during the holidays, as increased competition for travel and accommodations arises from Thais utilizing long weekends to escape the urban environment.

The following list enumerates all public holidays and significant nationwide celebrations in Thailand. Numerous significant holidays in the Thai calendar are determined by the lunar calendar, resulting in their occurrence on varying dates each year.

There are typically 19 public holidays observed throughout the year in Thailand (ประเทศไทย). Royal birthdays, religious holidays, and the customary New Year's celebrations are among the festivities.

Learn more: The Most Important Public Holidays in Thailand

Holidays and Observances in Thailand in 2025

New Year's Day, National Holiday, 1 Jan Wednesday

The first of January is observed as New Year's Day in Thailand according to the Gregorian Calendar. This is in addition to Songkran, the traditional mid-April Buddhist new year celebration.

Many Thais who live in cities or far from their birthplace take advantage of the end-of-year holiday to travel back to their hometown and see their parents and other surviving family members.

In Thailand, there are "New Year countdown events," corporate parties, musical performances, school celebrations, and fireworks displays all around the country on New Year's Day. There's a particularly big party by the Central World mall in Bangkok.

Despite the fact that this is not "Buddhist New Year," many devout Thai people will visit nearby temples in order to "make merit," offer gifts or cash to the monks, listen to the monks preach, release fish or birds in ceremonial ways, or embark on "meditation retreats" for the new year.

Learn more: 10 Ways to say Happy New Year in THAI

National Children's Day Observance, 11 Jan Saturday

Even though National Children's Day falls on Saturday, 11 January 2025, it is a working day. Most businesses follow regular opening hours in Thailand.

Teachers' Day Observance, 16 Jan Thursday

Teachers' Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

Chinese/Lunar New Year's Day, Observance, 29 Jan Wednesday

Lunar New Year is a festive occasion that calls for celebration in many places around the world.

The first day of the Chinese calendar, which is different from the Gregorian calendar, is known as Lunar New Year 2025. It is sometimes referred to as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. Every sign of the zodiac corresponds to a particular year.

On December 21, the day of the second New Moon after the winter solstice, the Chinese Lunar Year begins at sunset. This implies that any time between January 21 and February 21 is when the New Year can start.

There is no public holiday on Chinese New Year's Day. Companies open for business during regular hours.

Second Day of Chinese New Year Observance, 30 Jan Thursday

Third Day of Chinese New Year Observance, 31 Jan Friday

Valentine's Day Observance, 14 Feb Friday

Valentine’s Day on February 14 is a global holiday that traditionally celebrates romantic love. The holiday has taken a secular form in recent years and is celebrated in almost all countries worldwide.

Valentine's Day is not a public holiday in Thailand. Businesses have normal opening hours.

Makha Bucha Day, National Days, Wed, Feb 12

Maka Bucha is the second most important Buddhist festival in Thailand

Although the events of Maka Bucha date back over 2,500 years to the time when Buddha was teaching, this day was only designated as a holiday in Thailand in 1957. Before 1957, the third lunar month was observed as a Buddhist Holy Day.

This festival ranks as the second most significant celebration in Buddhism. The date of this festival, like many others in Buddhism, is determined by the Lunar cycle. The holiday is also referred to as Magha Puja or Lord Buddha Day.

On this day, the full moon of the third lunar month, known as Tabodwe, marked seven months since Buddha commenced his teachings, drawing over a thousand monks to listen to his sermon.

In the morning, numerous Thai individuals rise early to offer alms to monks. In the evening, temples are bustling with individuals gathered to hear sermons. They frequently engage in a ritual referred to as the candle ceremony, during which they walk clockwise three times around the temple. grasping blossoms, fragrant sticks, and a flickering candle. Each of the three circuits symbolizes one of the three jewels, which are the core concepts of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

Makha Bucha has been observed in contemporary Thailand since the era of King Rama IV, who reigned from 1851 to 1868. Initially, it was observed solely on the grounds of the royal palace, but it later gained national recognition before being established as a Thai public holiday in 1957. The Thai government has enforced a ban on alcohol since 2015.

Buddhists refrain from consuming alcohol and drugs on Makha Bucha Day. The prohibited behaviors encompass gambling, deceit, gossip, causing harm to other living beings, consuming meat, engaging in sexual promiscuity, and theft. Even Buddhists who are not particularly devout may choose to refrain from eating meat and drinking alcohol on this day.

March Equinox Season, 20 Mar Thursday

Chakri Day, National Holiday, 6 Apr Sunday

Kings of the Chakri Dynasty

Thailand's people celebrate Chakri Memorial Day on April 6 to remember the start of the Chakri royal dynasty in 1782, which is still in power. This is also a day to honor the Chakri kings for their important roles in Thailand's history.

What if April 6 falls on a weekend? The holiday will still happen on the following Monday. Keep in mind that the holiday falls on the day that Rama I was crowned king.

It wasn't long after the Chakri dynasty began before its first king, Rama I, made Bangkok the capital city of Thailand. In this way, the holiday can be seen as having extra meaning for people who live in Bangkok.

Rathod, the tenth Chakri king, is still in charge today. On Chakri Day, he and the rest of the royal family lead special services at the Royal Chapel. They also pay their respects to past Chakri kings at the Royal Pantheon and lay a wreath by the statue of Rama I.

Songkran, a popular three-day festival, starts just a few days after Chakri Day. This is a very happy time of year in Thailand.

Day off for Chakri Day National holiday, 7 Apr Monday

The Three Days of Songkran Festival

Songkran festival

Thailand takes a holiday for the Songkran Festival. The Thai New Year starts at that time. Sri Lanka's Songkran holiday comes from the Sanskrit word samkranti, which means "astrological passage." This is a traditional Buddhist holiday that is usually celebrated from April 13th to April 16th, unless the government changes the dates.

Songkran National holiday, 13 Apr Sunday

Songkran Holiday National holiday, 14 Apr Monday

Songkran Holiday National holiday, 15 Apr Tuesday

People clean their homes, temples, and schools on the first day of Songkran to remove bad luck and prepare for the new year. Song Nam Phra, which pours scented water on sacred Buddha images, is another major ritual. Water, traditionally scented with Nam Ob, is poured on the image's torso and body, not its head.

Wan Nao is the second day when people prepare food and offerings for monks and temples the next day. Young people prepare rose and jasmine water and Nam Op, scented water, to wash their parents' feet in Rot Nam Dam Hua to honor elders. The children receive blessings and a jasmine garland from the parents. Many people make sand stupas (Chedi Sai) in their local temple grounds as a personal pagoda and a fun family spiritual offering.

Wan Payawan, the third day of Songkran, begins with people visiting their local temple to give food and clothing to the monks, who pray for them. They also perform other New Year rituals for luck.

The Songkran Festival is a water festival. Water symbolizes washing away the past year's negativity. Songkran involves a water pouring to wash away bad luck and sins. Others add herbs to ritual water.

Water is important on many levels of the festival because April is the hottest month. However, Songkran is not always celebrated traditionally. Country takes to the streets in big cities. Bangkok has many street parties and water fights.

The most famous Bangkok street party is Silom. This street party spans over 4 kilometers. Thousands of people fight with water guns, balloons, and other vessels at this massive party. Water gun, toy, food, and drink vendors line the street.

Offices and banks are closed for three days as a national holiday. This allows many to visit family. This week, Thais celebrate water rituals, street parties, and other events. Many will attend temple during this time. Others may spring clean their homes annually.

Many families rise early on Songkran 2 to perform Buddhist rituals. They give Buddhist monks alms. They also perform ‘Bathing the Buddha image.’ Devout followers pour water over Buddha statues at home and in temples during this ritual.

Thailand National And Royal Anthems: Full Lyrics In English and Thai Thailand takes its national anthem and royal anthem extremely seriously. Played twice a day, morning and evening, every day Thais treat the national anthem with ...

Labor Day, Bank holiday, 1 May Thursday

This day is also known as May Day and International Workers' Day. A lot of countries around the world have holidays on that day. It's usually celebrated around May 1, but some countries do it on different days.

Thai people don't have to work on Labor Day. People in general have the day off, and most schools and businesses are closed.

Coronation Day, National holiday, 4 May Sunday

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X of Thailand. Image via Wikimedia Common

Thais have had a public holiday every year on May 4th since 2020 in honor of the King's birthday.

It was in the morning of May 4, 2019, that King Maha Vajiralongkorn was crowned.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who is also known as King Rama X, took the throne in December 2016 after his revered father King Bhumibol Adulyadej died in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne. He did this after being invited by the parliament.

His coronation came after Bhumibol's funeral, which was very large and took place a year after he died.

There were a mix of Buddhist religious ceremonies and Hindu Brahmin rituals at the official coronation.

Officials will attend ceremonies to remember the coronation two years ago, when His Majesty the King completed the ancient rites that included accepting royal regalia that represented his kingship and taking a bath in holy water to cleanse himself.

The king honors the nine kings who came before him at the Grand Palace. The dynasty has been around for 239 years and began in Bangkok in 1782.

Day off for Coronation Day National holiday, 5 May Monday

The king or queen who is currently in power is seen as "the divine among men." The people have a lot of respect for him, and Coronation Day is a public holiday that celebrates the official reign of the current monarch. That person is King Vajiralongkorn right now.

Visakha Bucha, National holiday, 11 May Sunday

In Thailand, Buddha's birthday is known as Visakha Bucha Day.

The most revered day in the Buddhist calendar is Buddha Purnima. It is the biggest holiday for Buddhists, and they celebrate it with great fervor.

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, Vesak falls on the first full moon of the fourth month. The Gregorian calendar shows a different date every year, but it usually falls in May.

Visiting Buddhist temples, especially "Wat Phra Kaeo," which is home to the Emerald Buddha and Sanam Luang, is customary on this day.

According to custom, on Visakha Bucha, pious Buddhists rise early and go to temples to make merit and hear lectures on the teachings of the Buddha.

Major temples host candlelit processions after dusk, in which devotees carry three lit incense sticks, a lit candle, and lotus buds as they walk three times clockwise around the main chapel.

Buddhist rituals involve the planting of Holy Buddha Trees, or Phra Sri Maha Bodhi in Thai.

Day off for Visakha Bucha, National holiday, 12 May Monday

Queen Suthida's Birthday National holiday, 3 Jun Tuesday

Queen Suthida

The Thai queen's birthday is a public holiday. On June 3, the kingdom celebrates Queen Suthida's birthday as Her Majesty the Queen's. If 3 June falls on a weekend, it's celebrated on Monday.

Dowager Sirikit, the previous queen, has a national holiday on her birthday. “National Mother’s Day” is now celebrated on August 12. On 1 May 2019, Queen Suthida became queen of Thailand and began leading HM the Queen's Birthday celebration.

Suthida was born 1979. She graduated from Assumption University and worked as a flight attendant for Jalways and Thai Airlines. Then Suthida joined the royal Thai bodyguards who protected the crown prince. She married the crown prince after he became king. Romantic love stories are usually fictional, but this one happened!

HM the Queen's Birthday is celebrated with decorations in public and private buildings nationwide. Every 3 June, Bangkok streets are decorated with lights, flowers, and Queen Suthida images.

June Solstice Season, 21 Jun Saturday

Buddhist Lent Day, National holiday, 21 Jul Monday

Thailand's national holiday is Asahna Bucha. It replaced Buddhist Lent as a gazetted holiday in 2007. Western calendar dates depend on the Lunar cycle. Also known as Asalha Puja or Dhamma Day.

Sri Lanka (Esala Full Moon Poya) and Myanmar (Full Moon of Waso or Danmasakyar Day) celebrate this Buddhist holiday.

Thai Buddhist temples celebrate the day. Many Thais visit their ancestral homes to donate to temples and hear sermons. Candles are donated to the wat for Asahna Bucha, and processions with candles are held in various Thai towns.

The tradition began before electricity when the temple needed extra light during the rainy season.

They perform 'wian tian' at night, walking clockwise around the temple's main shrine with a candle, incense sticks, and lotus flowers.

Monks chant mantras and preach Buddha's first sermon during the day.

Saraburi monks carry alms bowls through town. Visitors will place flowers in their bowls instead of food. Monks return to temples and revere the Buddha with flowers.

Young Thai men often become monks on Asahna Bucha Day.

Asahna Bucha is one of five Buddhist holidays without alcohol sales. Government and main bank offices will be closed.

King Vajiralongkorn's Birthday, National holiday, 28 Jul Monday

On July 28, Thailand celebrates King Maha Vajiralongkorn's (sometimes known as King Rama the Tenth) birthday as a national holiday.

After his father, King Bhumibol, passed away in 2016 following a 70-year reign, Rama X became the king of Thailand. Vajiralongkorn was an obvious choice for the throne because he was the only son of Bhumibol. When Vajiralongkorn took the throne, he was 64 years old.

With each new king comes a new date for Thailand to celebrate Bhumibol's birthday, which has been an annual tradition for quite some time. In order to support the monks, many Buddhist temples host annual festivals and collect donations. For good fortune, some people release turtles or birds.

Her Majesty the Queen Mother’s Birthday, National holiday, 12 Aug Tuesday

A public holiday is held in Thailand on the birthday of the Queen of the late King Bhumibol. It is also known as "Queen Mother's Birthday" because the current king's mother, Queen Sirikit, was born on this day.

The holiday is on August 12th. Today is a time to remember the good deeds and other accomplishments of Thailand's beloved Queen Mother and to honor all mothers across the country. In this way, it's also like "Mother's Day" in Thai.

Everywhere in the country today, buildings will be decked out for the holiday season, and the streets will be lit up with bright lights. Flower arrangements and pictures of the Queen Mother can be found there. The Thai flag will be flown high and draped over many buildings. This will be done to all public buildings and a lot of private homes as well.

There is a festival on Ratchadamnern Avenue in Bangkok, the capital city. It runs between the royal palace and the national parliament building. This is the "main event" for the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

Today is the Queen's Birthday in Thailand. People give to charity, pray for the Queen Mother, put jasmine spice in their homes, and give their mothers gifts.

September Equinox Season, 23 Sep Tuesday

Anniversary of the Death of King Bhumibol National holiday, 13 Oct Monday

In Thailand, October 13 is a public holiday to honor the day His Majesty the Late King died.

People in Thailand only knew King Bhumibol Adulyadej for many years. He stayed in power even as many prime ministers and military coup leaders came and went. He was seen as a stable figure, and the people who lived in his realmhim very much.

He was born on December 5, 1927, and died on October 13, 2016. He became king in 1946 and ruled for 70 years. People called him "Father of the Nation." He finally died at the age of 88, after a long battle with illness.

After a year, the king was burned at the stake and his body was taken to Phra Merumat on a restored golden royal chariot as part of a long and complicated ceremony. There, he was buried with many of his ancestors from the Chakri Dynasty, which began in 1782. All over the country, shrines were built in honor of the king, and people were sad for a whole year after he died.

Chulalongkorn Day National holiday, 23 Oct Thursday

King Chulalongkorn

Thailand's National Holiday, Piyamararaj Day, is celebrated on October 23rd. The holiday will be on Monday if October 23rd falls on a weekend.

The day honors King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who died on October 23, 1910.

He was the fifth Chakri king of Siam and one of its greatest.

Thais honor the great monarch by placing wreaths and flowers at the Rama V Statue in their hometown on this day. The Ministry of Interior orders provincial governments to commemorate King Chulalongkorn.

As Chulalongkorn Day is a Memorial Day, not a Buddhist holiday, bars and other entertainment may be open. Immigration offices, not airport and land border checkpoints, will close. Post offices, main bank branches (except in malls), and government offices will close.

There is no ban on the sale of alcohol by law for this public holiday.

Halloween Observance, 31 Oct Friday

Many people around the world celebrate Halloween, which occurs annually on October 31. It is the day before All Saints’ Day and is also sometimes called All Hallows’ Eve and Hallowmas Eve.

Halloween is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

King Bhumibol's Birthday/Father's Day National holiday, 5 Dec Friday

This national holiday in Thailand is held annually on December 5th.

If December 5th falls on a weekend, the holiday will be observed on the following Monday.

The late King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, had a birthday on this day. Thailand's National Day is also on this day, which is also Father's Day in Thailand.

The holiday itself is full of bright colors. All over Thailand, buildings will have flags, bunting, and portraits of the late King on display. In the Grand Palace area of Bangkok, the streets are lined with thousands of marigolds.

Yellow is the main color of the celebrations because the King was born on a Monday, and in Thailand, Monday is yellow. This is why marigolds are chosen for their color.

The streets around Ratchadamnoen and Sanam Luang are closed to traffic in the evening, and a lot of people come to watch the fireworks shows.

On this holiday, most government offices are closed, and all banks are closed except for branches in shopping malls. During this holiday, it is not illegal to sell alcohol.

Constitution Day, National holiday, 10 Dec Wednesday

When Thailand's first permanent constitution was signed in 1932, December 10 is Constitution Day, a time to remember that event. Since the holiday is close to the late King's Birthday on December 5, some people take a few days off to make it a long break and enjoy both holidays.

Thai people have always called their country "Mueang Thai," which means "land of the free." However, people from other countries used to call Thailand "Siam." The monarchy has also been around for a very long time. Early Thai kingdoms that stood out were the Kingdom of Sukhothai, which began in 1238 A.D., and the Kingdom of "Ayutthaya," which lasted from the 1300s until it was destroyed by Burma in 1767.

This new kingdom, on the other hand, began with the Chakri Dynasty in 1782. Its capital was Bangkok, and its first king was Rama I. All of these were absolute monarchies. The constitution of 1932 and later ones put more power in the hands of the people's representatives in government and limited the power of the monarchy.

Thailand went through a lot of economic and political change in the 1920s. Then, in 1932, the military, the police, and the intellectual class went to king Rama VII and asked that he be limited in his power. People stopped believing in the king's ability to lead the country because he was too young and there wasn't enough democracy. At first, the king said no, but on December 10, 1932, he finally gave in. The king lost almost all of his power, but his position as king was kept safe.

There have been 20 more constitutions of Thailand since then, but the monarchy has lived through all of them. Bangkok's king is still respected as the official leader of the country, the head of the military, and the "upholder of all religions."

December Solstice Season, 21 Dec Sunday

Christmas Eve Observance, 24 Dec Wednesday

Many places around the world celebrate Christmas Eve, which is the day before Christmas Day. The Gregorian calendar puts it on December 24. It is a Christian holiday.

There is no holiday on Christmas Eve. Businesses are open at regular times.

Christmas Day Observance, 25 Dec Thursday

Christmas Day, on December 25, is one of the most festive Christian holidays in many countries around the world. It celebrates Jesus' birth.

Christmas Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

New Year's Eve National holiday, 31 Dec Wednesday

In line with the Gregorian Calendar, Thailand celebrates January 1 as New Year's Day. This is on top of Songkran, the traditional Buddhist celebration of the new year in the middle of April.

Many Thai people who live in cities or somewhere other than their hometown will use the end-of-year holiday to go back to their hometown and see their parents and other family members who still live there.

Thailand has "New Year countdown events," school events, corporate parties, musical concerts, and fireworks shows all over the country. In Bangkok, there is a very large gathering by the Central World mall.

A lot of religious Thai people will still go to temples to "make merit," which means they will give money or gifts to the monks, listen to religious talks from the monks, release birds or fish in a ceremony, or go on "meditation retreats" for the New Year.

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