THAI CALENDAR
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Since several decades, the westerner New
Year's day is also a public holiday
in Thailand. But the popular New Year's day for Thai
people happens in April; it is called "SONGKRAN". The reference
point is Lord Buddha's birth 543 before Jesus Christ.
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During this day, feasts organized by children
happen. Children are
highly respected in Thailand. In a bus an adult often gives his
seat to a child but not to an elderly person. This day always happens
on the second saturday in January.
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This day is an occasion for pupils to make merit for their teachers. Teachers are highly worshipped in Thailand for their knownledge. Pupils do not dare to embarrass their teachers.
During this day, Thai King Rama IX visits the army and watches a military parad.
Thailand has more than 60 millions of inhabitants. Around 6 millions of them have Chinese ancestors that immigrated to Thailand last century. So Chinese New year's day is an important public holiday.
It came from the day when 1250 disciples from the Lord Buddha gathered to listen for the Dharma speech after Buddha's enlightment.
No public holidays during this month.
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This public holiday commemorates
the Chakri dynasty. The current King is
the ninth King of the Chakri dynasty. A Royal ceremony is
performed by the King to pay respects to King Rama I the Great, the
founder of the Chakri Dynasty.
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The "SONGKRAN" festival happens in the hot season in half of april. This festival happens in all Buddhist "THEREVADA" countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma. Songkran is the ancient New Year's Day. Now the official New Year's Day happens the 1st January. But the most popular feast is still "SONGKRAN".
The first day of May is a public holiday commemorating the workers.
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This public holiday is a day to
commemorate the coronation of King Rama IX.
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Royal ploughing is done every year by Brahmanic priests. This event happens in the front of the temple "WAT PHRA KAEW" on the big field called "SANAM LUANG".
This ceremony symbolises the beginning of the sowing period. Brahmin priests bless seeds and make symbolic furrows using a plough pulled by buffalos. Once the ceremony is over, all the watching people run to the furrows in order to get the blessed seeds. Those ones are supposed to bring good harvests. This is a public holiday.
This day is a Buddhist public holiday. This day commemorates the birth, the enlightment and the death (entry into the nirvana) of Buddha. Temples through the country are crowded with people listening to sermons about Dharma (Buddha's teaching) and in the evening there is a candlelit procession around the main building of the temple containing the Buddha statues.
No public holidays during this month.
This day, which is a Buddhist public holiday, happens one day just before the Buddhist Lent day. This day commemorates the first sermon of Buddha to his five first disciples. One of them asked for being a monk. So this day is sacred because it deals with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. There are also candlelit processions.
This day is a Buddhist public holiday. It is the beginning of the buddhist rain retreat which last three months. During this period monks are not allowed to sleep outside their temple. Thai people buy big candles and offer them to temples.
This public holiday is the day of all the mothers of Thailand. Especially the Queen, the mother of all Thai people. On this day all the buildings of Thailand are covered up with images of H.M. The Queen.
No public holidays during this month.
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This is a public holiday day to commemorate the
Rama V or Chulalongkorn wise reign over Thailand. Thanks to
him, Thailand did not become a French or English colony even if
Thailand lost his leadership over Laos, Cambodia and the northern
provinces of Malaysia. During his reign, Thailand became a modern
country.
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This day is a religious event. The three months rain retreat is over for monks. Monks are allowed to go out of temples. Robes offering ceremonies ("THOT KATHIN" - ทอดกฐิน) happen everywhere in Thailand. Thai people choose temples everywhere in Thailand and bring there clothes, food for the monks. "THOT KATHIN" ceremonies last one month.
Loi Krathong is a religious event which happens every year on the full moon of the 12th lunar month (first full moon day of November). All Thai people buy or make a "KRATHONG". It is made of styrofoam surrounded by banana leaves, with flowers and a candle in the middle. Then in the evening, Thai people go to places where there is a river, a pound to launch their "KRATHONG".
During this day, Thai Royal guards parade past the members of the royal family and pledge allegiance to H.M. the King. They are dressed in colorful uniforms, reminding the time when coloured flags served as rallying points during the battle.
This public holiday is the day of all the fathers of Thailand. Especially the King Rama IX, the father of all Thai people. This day is the birthday of the current Thai King. All the buildings of Thailand are covered up with symbols of the monarchy and the King.
Since 1932 Thailand is a democracy. Before 1932, Thailand was called Siam and was under the total rule of the King. Now Thailand is a democracy. The king has still some power, but just a moral power over Thai people, who worship him for all its kindness and goodness. Thailand is like England : a King with no real power, a government and no president. This public holiday is the day to commemorate the Thai constitution.
This public holiday is the last day of the year. The New Year holiday and "SONGKRAN" period have always high accident tolls. During New year holiday 2002, 501 people were killed in traffic accidents. Many were found to have been caused by reckless and drunk motorcyclists.
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