Thai Holidays

The list below shows the public holidays as well as some of the more important nationwide celebrations that aren’t national holidays.

Note that the National Holidays are also observed by Thai consulates and embassies abroad, something to be aware of when applying for a visa. As these offices also close for the national holidays of the country in which they are situated, it pays to check.

As many of the most important holidays on the Thai calendar are based on the lunar calendar, they occur on different days from year to year. I’ll amend this thread as required, am not 100% sure on some of the days as websites vary.

Some of these days are also days when alcohol sales are prohibited, bars closed. These include: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asarna Bucha, Wan Khao Phansa & Buddhist Lent day. (Note that the sale of alcohol is always prohibited from 2pm to 5pm and midnight -11am on regular days)

2014 – 2557

New Year’s Day

The beginning of the western New Year is a national holiday in Thailand, one of three “new year” holidays celebrated every year.
New Year 2014
Wednesday, 1 January 2014

National Children’s Day

Saturday 11 January 2014
Held second Saturday of January each year.

Chinese New Year

The beginning of the Chinese lunar year is celebrated in the Chinatowns of every city throughout Thailand. Some businesses close for the day, but it is not a national holiday except (from 2012) in the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Satun.
Chinese New Year 2014
Friday, 31 January 2014

Makha Bucha

Makha Bucha celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon in to his disciples.
Friday, 14 February 2014

Chakri Day

Chakri Day commemorates the founding of the current dynasty by its first king, Rama I.
Chakri 2013
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Monday, 7 April 2014 (Substitute day holiday for Chakri Day)

Songkran

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, generally celebrated as a water festival. Be prepared to get wet all over as revelers abound, ready to soak you as a form of celebrating this season!
Songkran 2014
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Monday, 14 April 2014
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Thailand Labor Day

International Labor Day is also celebrated as a national holiday, even though there isn’t much ado about it. Some businesses may be closed.
Thursday, 1 May 2014

Coronation Day

Celebrates the day when the current king Rama IX was crowned in 1949.
Monday, 5 May 2014

Royal Ploughing Ceremony

An ancient royal rite held in Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season
TBA

Visakha Bucha / Vesak Day

The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha.
Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Mid Year Closing Day (Banks and Financial Institutions)

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Asalha Puja (Asarnha Bucha) Day

Commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon in the Deer Park in Benares and the founding of the Buddhist sangha.
Full moon of the eighth lunar month
Friday, 11 July 2014

Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Khao Phansa)

This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist ‘lent’ period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth.
Saturday, 12 July 2014

H.M. The Queen’s Birthday

Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country’s Mothers’ Day as well.
Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

Celebration of the death anniversary of Thailand’s one of the most revered kings, Rama V.
Thursday, 23 October 2014

End of Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Awk Phansa)

This day marks the end of the Buddhist ‘lent’ period or the Rains Retreat.
TBC October 2014

Thod Kathin

Presentation of Monk’s Robes after Rains Retreat.
TBC for 2014

Loy Kratong

While it is not marked a national holiday, it is an evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings on any and all waterways around the kingdom. Held on evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar
Loy Krathong 2014
Friday, 7 November 2014

H.M. The King’s Birthday

His Majesty the King’s birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also
Friday, 5 December 2014

Thai Constitution Day

Celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution.
Wednesday, 10 December 2014

New Years’ Eve

The day before the Western New Year day is always marked a national holiday.
Wednesday, 31 December 2014

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If anyone notices any errors, or has additional information that can be added to this list, please contact me.