Are you traveling to Thailand? Have you thought to research the festive and traditional events that might coincide with your travel dates? Here are all the Thai festivals and celebrations you should know about to experience true immersion in local culture...

January

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a January trip to Thailand include:

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Although the Thai new year does not correspond to the Western one, December 31st and January 1st are public holidays in Thailand. On New Year's Eve, you can enjoy fireworks in all tourist cities, notably in Bangkok where they are spectacular.

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival

Since 1980, the village of Bo Sang, in the north of the country, hosts every third weekend of January the umbrella and craftspeople festival. For 3 days, the streets and homes are decorated with magnificent colorful parasols typical of the region, and villagers show off their finest umbrellas. Entertainments (folk music, performances, beauty pageants...) are also organized.

February

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a February trip to Thailand include:

Chinese New Year (January or February)

Each year, between January 21st and February 21st, Chinese New Year takes place. For several days, Thai people of Chinese origin conduct a major house cleaning to purify it and make offerings to their ancestors and Chinese deities. In major cities, particularly in Bangkok's Chinatown, celebrations (parades, dragon processions, dances, and Chinese cuisine) are in full swing.

Discover our article to learn where to celebrate Chinese New Year in Thailand.

Makha Bucha

Makha Bucha is one of the three major public holidays marking the life stages of Buddha. It falls on the full moon of the 3rd lunar month and is a national holiday. This day marks the anniversary of the Great Assembly around Buddha in the Veluwan garden, when 1,250 disciples came to hear his teachings.

On this special day, Thai people participate in numerous rituals: they bring offerings to monks and temples, participate in candlelit processions around temples, buy caged birds to release them...

Chiang Mai Flower Festival

The Flower Festival is a colorful event held annually in Chiang Mai. It typically takes place on the first Friday of February and lasts 3 days. Among the activities offered are a parade of flower-decorated floats, beauty contests, dance, music, and gardening competitions...

March

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a March trip to Thailand include:

National Elephant Day

Considered Thailand's national animal, the elephant even has a sacred dimension in Buddhist belief. No wonder it has its own day: Thai Chiang Day (National Elephant Day). Thus, March 13th each year is dedicated to honoring these pachyderms through celebrations organized throughout the country, notably in Chiang Mai, Lampang, Kanchanaburi, and Surin.

April

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during an April trip to Thailand include:

Songkran, the Thai New Year

A festive, family-oriented, and religious celebration, Songkran is the country's most important festival. Considered the Thai Buddhist New Year, Songkran marks the transition to a new year according to the lunar calendar. The exact date is determined by the lunar calendar, but it typically occurs around April 12th.

According to tradition, Thai people begin by visiting temples to offer donations to monks and receive their blessings. The celebration is followed by a massive water battle throughout the country in the most good-natured atmosphere possible!

Discover our article to learn where to celebrate Songkran during a Thailand trip.

May

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a May trip to Thailand include:

Royal Plowing Ceremony

Also called the Festival of the Sacred Furrow, the Royal Plowing Ceremony marks the opening of the rice season. The date of this ritual is determined by astrologers to ensure good harvests and is announced by the Royal Household Bureau. The ceremony is held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok.

During the ceremony, sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plow as rice seeds are sown by Brahmin priests of the royal court. Food platters with specific ingredients are then offered to them. Based on what they choose to eat, astrologers and Brahmins subsequently predict whether the season will be abundant or not.

Coronation Day of King Rama X

May 4th marks the coronation date of King Rama X (His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua), Thailand's current king. Since then, this date has been a public holiday.

Visakha Bucha

Like Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha is one of the most important days for Buddhists. A public holiday in Thailand, it falls on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 6th lunar month. This sacred day commemorates Buddha's birth, Enlightenment, and death. Thai people then visit temples to bring their offerings.

Bun Bang Fai, the Rocket Festival

Originating from Laos, Bun Bang Fai is a traditional Buddhist ceremony also held in Northeast Thailand, notably in the Isan region, at Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani, and Nong Khai.

The festival takes place over several days with the highlight being a competition of handmade rockets crafted from bamboo and papier-mâché. Why rockets? Because they are considered a means of reaching the rain gods. These rituals aim to bring fertility and favor upcoming harvests. Indeed, you see many representations of phallic symbols (signs of fertility) in the streets.

June

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a June trip to Thailand include:

Birthday of Queen Suthida of Thailand

June 3rd marks the birthday of Queen Suthida, wife of King Rama X and queen consort of Thailand since May 1st, 2019. It is a national public holiday.

Phi Ta Khon, Festival of Ghosts (between March and July)

The Phi Ta Khon festival is held once a year in Dan Sai, a small village located in Loei province, in the Isan region. The festival's opening date is set by the lunar calendar and can fall between March and July.

The festival's name is somewhat misleading since the term Phi Ta Khon ("Festival of Ghosts") applies only to the wild dance that opens the festivities. The event as a whole is called Boun Bhavet. It honors one episode from Buddha's life: when he was known as Prince Vessantara Jataka and returned from his journey when he was supposed to be dead.

Over 3 days, many activities take place (dances, animist rituals, mask parades, ghost costumes, rocket competitions, spiritual recollection…).

July

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a July trip to Thailand include:

Asahna Bucha

After Makha Bucha and Visakha Bucha, it's time to celebrate Asahna Bucha. This sacred festival is a public holiday held during the full moon of the 8th lunar month. It celebrates Buddha's first sermon and the Four Noble Truths of the religion. Thai people return to their hometowns and go to temples to make offerings to monks and follow ceremonies.

Khao Phansaa

The day following Asahna Bucha marks Khao Phansaa, a festival that begins the Buddhist Lent and takes place on the 1st day of the waning moon of the 8th lunar month. From this date, monks confine themselves to temples and focus on texts, practicing meditation and prayer.

Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani

The Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival takes place each year on Wan Asanha Bucha to mark the beginning of Buddhist Lent. The program includes a parade of floats decorated with candles sculpted by artists and a competition for the most beautiful candle. The parade is accompanied by dance performances, music, and light and sound displays.

Other cities also host this festival, but that of Ubon Ratchathani is the largest and most renowned in the country.

Birthday of His Majesty King Rama X of Thailand

July 28th is the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), Thailand's current king. It is a public holiday with many celebrations (fireworks, parades, official ceremonies...) held in his honor.

August

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during an August trip to Thailand include:

Birthday of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara and Mother's Day

August 12th marks the birthday of Sirikit Kitiyakara, former queen consort of Thailand and wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). Parades and celebrations take place throughout the country for the occasion. It is a public holiday when Mother's Day is also celebrated.

September

Vegetarian Festival (September-October)

Of Chinese tradition, the Thai Vegetarian Festival takes place each year during the 9th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (often between September and October). For 9 days, part of the population stops eating meat and observes several rituals (no sexual relations, no alcohol consumption, wearing white clothing...) to purify body and spirit.

Festivities continue with ceremonies aimed at invoking gods, and you see participants pierce their bodies with various objects (skewers, knives...) and perform astonishing physical feats such as walking on hot coals.

Because manifestations can take frightening turns, it is better to avoid going with children or sensitive souls.

October

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during an October trip to Thailand include:

Pavarana

After 3 months of retreat, Buddhist Lent ends the day after the full moon of the eleventh month, with a ritual called Pavarana. At this time, monks emerge from their temples and are offered new saffron robes and food by residents.

Commemorative Day of the Death of King Rama IX

October 13th marks the date of the death of King Bhumibol, Rama IX, former king of Thailand, who died in 2016. It is a public holiday when Thai people are in mourning.

Piyamaharaj Day

Translated as "day of the great beloved king," Piyamaharaj Day is celebrated in honor of the memory of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), one of the most respected kings of the kingdom. It corresponds to the day of his death.

November

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a November trip to Thailand include:

Loi Krathong, the Festival of Lights

Loi Krathong takes place during the 1st full moon of the 12th lunar month. It is one of the most beautiful traditional festivals in Thailand. Also known as the Festival of Lights, this festival of Brahminical origin offers a magical experience to all travelers who discover it.

Indeed, thousands of offerings illuminated by candles are placed on the country's waters to beseech Buddha. To deposit their offerings, Thai people create small traditional rafts in the shape of lotus flowers called krathong. Other activities (fireworks, parades, beauty contests...) take place in parallel.

Lopburi Monkey Festival

Located in the center of the country, Lopburi is a small town known for its impressive population of macaques. Each year, on the last Saturday or Sunday of November, the Lopburi Monkey Festival takes place, a festival during which the population offers a giant buffet to the monkeys. This banquet is a sacred ritual given in honor of Hanuman, the Monkey God (the macaques being considered his descendants).

December

The festivals and celebrations to see and enjoy during a December trip to Thailand include:

Birthday of King Rama IX and Father's Day

December 5th is a public holiday corresponding to the birthday of King Bhumibol (Rama IX), former king of Thailand. Parades and celebrations take place throughout the country. It is also the day designated for Father's Day.

Constitution Day

December 10th is a public holiday in Thailand as it commemorates the country's first constitution (dating from 1932) which allowed the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.