The Most Important Public Holidays in Thailand in 2024

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Every year there are dozens of Thai public holidays and festivals to experience. This includes Thailand’s public holidays, as well as country wide and regional festivals. These are fun times to explore Thailand.

Holidays and Observances in Thailand in 2024:

Some Important Public Holidays in Thailand in 2024

National Children's Day

Children are loved and cherished in Thailand, and play a big part in culture. They get their very own celebration on the second Saturday of January, on a day declared as National Children’s Day, or Wan Dek. Children receive gifts from their families and might be treated to a day out.

Many tourist attractions, along with public transport operators like the BTS and MRT, admit children under a certain height free of charge. The Thai army often opens the doors at its bases around the capital for children to take a look around and climb on a tank or two.

Events to mark Children’s Day take place in Thai schools the day before when children receive gifts from their teachers and put on performances. All in all, it is a pleasant occasion for Thai children to be treated with even more affection than they usually enjoy!

Coronation Day

Every year on May 5, Thailand is celebrating Coronation Day (wan chat-mong-kol in Thai). It is public holiday, banks and administration offices are closed.

The coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej took place on 5 May 1950. And every year, on May 5, the Thai people express their affection and loyalty to the King. Prior to the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut), there was no coronation ceremony in Thailand.

The annual coronation ceremony is currently a three-day affair, starting with a ritual “tham boon” ceremony on May 3 to honor the King’s ancestors. On 4 May, the Coronation Ceremonies begin with the proclamation of the Coronation Day read by the Chief of Brahmin priests followed by an evening chanting performed by Buddhist monks. Finally, 5 May is the actual date of the ceremony. Food is offered to monks folloed by the celebration of the Royal Regalia. At noon the Army and Navy fire a 21-gun salute in honour of the king. On this day, His Majesty the King also presents the royal decorations to the people who have made a valuable contribution to the country.

Visaka Bucha Day

Visaka Bucha day is a traditional holiday on which the Thai Buddhists, and in general Buddhists from all over the world, celebrate the three main events of Gautam Buddh’s life – His birth, enlightenment and his passing away. The day marks a special occasion in Thailand and for Thais living in other countries and is a declared public holiday. Communities following the Buddhism religion commemorate the values, traditions and knowledge enlightened by Lord Budhha on the society and celebrate this day with merit making, precept observation and meditation. Following is the detailed concept of the traditional rituals of Visaka Bucha day.

The Buddhist community celebrate this day by way of following rituals:

-Tam Boon – it refers to merit making by way of visiting temples, donating food and money, joining budhhist activities and listening to Dham preaches.

-Rub Sil – this refers to observing the 5 precepts including the restraint from alcohol consumption.

-Tak Bard – this refers to offering of food to the monks and other trainees of the culture.

Chulalongkorn Day

The public holiday of Chulalongkorn Day celebrates the life and work of King Chulalongkorn, also known as Rama V, who ruled Thailand for 42 years. The holiday is celebrated on 23 October, the day that he passed away in 1910 at the age of 57. In this article you will find out more about Chulalongkorn Day.

Photo Expique

Known as the country’s modernising monarch, the abolition of slavery in Thailand is considered among his greatest achievements. Prior to this, as much as a third of the Thai population is said to have been enslaved, and children were frequently born into a system of entrenched slavery that was difficult to escape.

He is also credited with having introduced other social and political reforms, including the creation of the country’s modern administrative structure into provinces and districts. Under King Chulalongkorn’s reign Thailand switched from the lunar calendar to the Gregorian calendar used in the west – though the country continues to use the Buddhist year, which is 543 years ahead of the western year, so 2014 becomes 2557.

Nowadays the most visible daily memorial to the King is his appearance on the reverse of the 100 baht banknote, while the prestigious Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok was also named after him when it was founded seven years after his death and incorporated the civil service training school he had developed.

Many Thai businesses hang portraits of King Chulalongkorn, alongside those of his grandson the King Bhumibol (Rama 9) and the current king, in the hope of good fortune.

For many non Thais he is most well known due to how he was portrayed in the Hollywood film The King and I, the story-line of which centred on his father, King Mongkut.

However, in Thailand in is on October 23 each year where people focus their attention to remember his legacy.

Vegetarian Festival-Date: Varies every year – from 4th to 13th October For nine days each year, in the ninth lunar month that typically falls in September or October, many Thais – particularly those of Chinese origin – take part in a Vegetarian Festival known as Tessagan Gin Jay. In years when there is a lunar ‘leap month’, the festival occurs twice. Though the festival has Taoist origins, it has slowly been incorporated into Thai Buddhism and is now a big event across Thailand, including Bangkok, Phuket, Nakhon Sawan, Song Khla, Trang, Pang Nga, and Ranong. You will find street stalls and restaurants selling vegan food across the country. Photo Expique For the nine-day period, those participating consume exclusively vegan food and drink in an effort to cleanse the body and mind. Many devotees also abstain from alcohol, gambling (which is technically illegal in Thailand anyway), swearing and sex. Phuket is the heart of the festival and people participate with dramatic acts of self-mutilation that vary from walking across hot coals to piercing the cheeks with long knives.

The Most Important Public Holidays in Thailand In 2022 Have a look at a list of public holidays in Thailand and take note in the calendar!

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