Many of Thailand's annual events are determined by the lunar
calendar, so dates change from year to year, this is particularly
true of religious holidays. However, most larger shops no
longer close for public holidays, although some smaller retail
outlets and family shops close for Chinese New Year and Songkran.
Provinces have their own festivals in celebration of local
harvests of the seasonal crops.
|
January |
| Chiang Mai Winter Fair |
Beauty pageants boxing competitions, stalls selling a range
of locally made goods and very loud music make this an exciting,
if unsophisticated, event. |
|
February |
| Chiang Mai Flower Festival |
More beauty contests, handicraft sales, flower displays
and a parade of beautifully decorated floats take to the streets
as Chiang Mai residents celebrate the blooming of nature.
Representing the day the Buddha was born, the day He attained
Enlightenment, and the day of His passing, this festival falls
on the day of the full moon of Kason in the Myanmar calendar,
in early May. Visits are made to pagodas to water the sacred
Bo Trees - under which species the Buddha is said to have
attained Enlightenment. |
| Phra Buddhabat Festival |
The Shrine of the Holy Footprint near Saraburi draws Buddhists
from all over the country to make merit. |
|
March |
| Asean Barred Ground Dove Festival |
Dove-lovers from across Thailand, and neighboring countries
congregate at Khwan Muang Park, in Yala Province, to display
their prize doves and take part in the dove-cooing competition,
which usually involves more than 1,400 participants. |
|
April |
| Songkran Festival |
This is the traditional Thai New Year and usually falls
around the middle of the month. It is a time for local people
to pay homage to Buddha images, clean their homes, and sprinkle
water on their elders in a show of respect. This has developed
in recent years into open water warfare, with everything from
hoses to ten gallon tubs used to guarantee a thorough soaking
of the target. This is particularly popular in the tourist
areas of Khao San Road, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. The latter
also holds colourful parades and religious ceremonies. |
| Pattaya Festival |
Usually a week after the Songkran festivities in Bangkok,
this is a riotous celebration with parades, floats, beauty
contests, food festivals, and a spectacular fireworks display. |
|
May |
| Royal Ploughing Ceremony |
Presided over by the King and Queen at Sanam Luang in Bangkok,
this ancient Brahmin festival marks the beginning of the rice-planting
season. Predictions are made about weather and harvests for
the coming year on the basis of which of the selected foods
the sacred cows choose. |
| Visakha Bucha |
Marked by night-time processions of worshippers around almost
every temple in the kingdom, this festival celebrates the
birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha. |
| Yasothon Rocket Festival |
Villagers from the poor northeastern province of Yasothon
compete with each other to make the biggest, most explosive
bamboo rockets during this annual rainmaking festival. Prizes
are awarded for the rocket that reaches the highest trajectory. |
|
June |
| Phi Ta Khon Festival |
Another rainmaking festival, this one for the northeastern
province of Loei, though not quite so explosive. Local people
parade in the streets in highly decorated ghost masks and
costumes. |
|
July |
| Asalaha Bucha Day |
Commemorating the Buddha's first sermon, this also marks
the beginning of Khao Pansa, a period of three months during
which monks must remain in their temples and strictly observe
their religious duties. This is also a popular time for young
Thai men to enter the monkhood for a short peiod. |
| Candle Festival |
Coinciding with Asalaha Bucha, this festival sees the streets
of Ubon Ratchathani filled with processions of huge, beautifully
carved beeswax candles, some of them several metres tall,
that are to be presented to local temples. |
|
August |
| Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen |
Also marking Mother's Day in Thailand, the 12th of August
see the towns and villages of the country festively decorated
with lights and portraits of the Queen |
|
September |
| Phichit Boat Races |
Though boat races take place in several towns along the Mekong
River in September, the spectacular annual rowing regatta
in Phichit takes place on the Nan River, which runs through
the provincial capital. Low-slung wooden boats rowed with
great gusto to the hearty cheers of spectators make this an
exciting day at the races. |
|
October |
| Chulalongkorn Day |
Commemorating the death of King Rama V on the 23rd of October.
The memory of this much beloved king is honoured with thousands
of wreaths laid at his Equestrian Statue at the Royal Plaza. |
| Awk Pansa |
To mark the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat (Khao Pansa),
monks at temples throughout the country are presented with
robes and other utility items by merit-makers. |
| Vegetarian Festival |
This ten day Chinese festival in Phuket has become world-famous
for the gory pictures of people impaling their faces and bodies
with everything from swords, spears and even fish. Apparently
unable to feel pain and in a trance-like state, these people
of Chinese ancestry parade in the streets with the various
arrays of sharp objects still protruding from their flesh.
A little less gory are the beauty pageants, fairs and food
stalls that line the streets of Phuket town. |
| Wax Castle Festival |
The end of Buddhist Lent is marked by the people in the northeast
of Thailand with the creation of miniature beeswax Buddhist
temples and shrines. These "wax castles" help them
to gain merit, which will determine their future rebirth.
Sakon Nakhon has one of the most spectacular festivals with
a grand wax procession, boat races and traditional northeastern
cultural performances. |
| Chon Buri Buffalo Races |
A chance for buffalos to do more than just plough fields
as they compete in races and contests pitting the strength
of man against that of his faithful farm animal. |
|
November |
| Loy Krathong |
River spirits are placated for another year with gifts of
Krathongs floated on rivers, canals and lakes on the night
of the full moon. Made of banana leaves, and decorated with
incense and candles, thousands of these beautiful boats light
up the night. The most beautiful sights are at the Bang Sai
Arts & Crafts Centre near Ayutthaya, and in the ruins
of Sukhothai, the first Thai capital, where the festival is
supposed to have originated. |
| Surin Elephant Roundup |
With tug-o-wars, demonstrations of logging skills, ancient
warfare parades, and even games of football, the elephants
of Surin entertain the crowds of visitors to this north eastern
town. |
| River Kwai Bridge Week |
The River Kwai bridge, in Kanchanaburi, is the setting for
this week-long festival, from November 21 to December 2, featuring
spectacular sound and light performances on the bridge, archaeological
and historical exhibitions, and vintage train rides. |
| Golden Mount Festival |
A major Bangkok festival with colourful sideshows, food stalls,
music and entertainment. The Golden Mount comes alive with
flickering lights after dark, as a candle-lit procession winds
its way to the top. |
| Illuminated Boat Procession |
Elaborately adorned boats containing merit-making offerings
are set adrift at nightfall along the banks of the Mekong
at Nakhon Phanom. This dazzling event marks the end of the
Buddhist Lent. |
|
December |
| Birthday of His Majesty the King |
Flags, lights and portraits of His Majesty the King adorn
the streets and building of every town and village on the
5th and the occasion is marked by a huge and spectacular fireworks
display near the Grand Palace. |
| Trooping of the Colours |
This colourful parade of the armed forces in full dress uniform
at the Royal Plaza is to confirm their allegiance to the King
and country. |
| Phuket King's Cup Regatta |
Southeast Asia's leading regatta, held in the waters off
the island of Phuket and starting on the first Saturday of
the month. Competitors come from around the world to take
part in this annual event. |
| Ayutthaya Festival |
Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991, this
former capital city celebrates its glorious past with historical
exhibitions, traditional cultural processions and performances,
light & sound presentations around city ruins, and many
other forms of entertainment. |
| Chiang Mai Food Festival |
Celebrating the northern capital's great cuisine, with local
specialities, fruit carving demonstrations, and cultural shows. |
