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Thailand
Celebrations Holidays
Because many Thai celebrations are of a Buddhist nature, they refer to
the Buddhist religious calendar, which is dependant on the moon-cycle.
Therefore certain celebrations vary within the month from year to year.
The Buddhist calendar is 543 years older than the Christian, the year
2002 thus corresponds with the year 2545.
The western calendar however applies to national celebrations. If a
legal holiday falls on a weekend, most offices remain closed on Monday
and authorities are generally short staffed, a so-called Bank-Holiday is
celebrated. Therefore there are about a dozen long weekends per year,
which are often used for short trips to nearby beaches and islands in
Thailand. In all temples in Thailand, there is at least one celebration
per year, which is mainly attended by the natives.
Besides the main celebrations, in each province capital there is at
least one fair, where local products and agricultural goods are offered.
Also more and more celebrations are created by the Tourist-Authority, in
order to promote regions for tourism.
You
will find exact information regarding religious celebrations and
ceremonies in the brochure 'Major Events and
Festivals', available at each tourist-information-centre, or in
the Internet under www.tat.or.th/festival.
Happy
New Year
New
Year is also celebrated on 1st of January.
Chinese
New-year
Takes place during
black-moon between 21st January and 19th February. It lasts for 3 days, is
celebrated with dragon-dances on the roads and usually used as a time to
clean the house equivalent to our `spring-clean'. Also families go
together on trips or short vacations.
Makha
Bucha Day
At full moon in
February, light-processions take place around the temples, in order to
remind of Buddha's speech which took place in front of 1250 illuminated
monks.
Chakri-Day
Celebrated
in the Wat Phra Keo on 6th of April for the coronation-day of the first
Chakri-King, the founder of the Royal-city Bangkok.
.
Songkran
Festival
Probably
the most important and well-known celebration in Thailand, the Thai New
Year, celebrated from 13th - 15th April. During the hottest time of the
year, everywhere in the country people spray each other with water. If
you are in the country at this time, do not expect to arrive dry at your
destination, as there is no difference between Farangs
(foreigner) and Thais. Everyone who has experienced this celebration
once - the refreshing showers and the excited behaviour will remember it
forever.
Labour-Day
Celebrations is between 1st of May
Coronation-Day
On May 5th the coronation of the current King, Rama IX, is celebrated,
who was crowned on May 5th 1950.
Visakha
Bucha
The holiest Buddhist celebration takes place on full moon day in May.
For the celebration of the birth, the illumination, and Buddha's final
occurring into the Nirvana, light-processions take place in the evening
or the previous evening in all temples.
Asalha
Bucha
Is celebrated with flowers and light processions in the temples on the
full moon day in July to the memory of Buddha's first public speech. On
the day after Asalha Bucha the 3-month-long fasting-time of the monks
begins. In this time, the monks are under strict rules and are forbidden
to leave their monastery at night. Also traditionally, in this time,
most young men go into the monastery.
Birthday
of the Queen
On August 12th the birthday of the Queen Sirikit is celebrated, who has
been first lady of Thailand since 1950.
Chulalongkorn-Day
Takes place on
October 23rd, which is the day of the death of King Rama V (Chulalongkorn),
the ruler who opened Thailand to western influences.
Loy
Krathong
On
full moon day in November, the end of rainy-season is celebrated. Small
boats, traditionally made from cut banana-leaves decorated with candles,
incense and flowers, are sacrificed to the goddess of water. These can
be seen on lakes, rivers and channels throughout the entire country.
King's birthday
The national holiday, the birthday of King Bumiphol, is celebrated
on December 5th. Celebrations and parades take place everywhere.
Constitution-Day
Takes place on December 10th.
New-Years-Eve
As
abroad, is celebrated on December 31st with celebrations and parties all
over.
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