Travel guide with information
about the Buddhist calendar, celebrations, processions, fairs, parades,
parties
and national holidays in Thailand |
Koh Chang,
Koh Kood and more islands between Bangkok, Pattaya and Cambodia
in Thailand. With pictures, maps and information
- not only from hotels, bungalow resorts and accommodation. Travel
and holiday in Thailand – easy with www.Ko-Chang.info |
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(View from the road between White Sand
Beach and Khlong Son Bay) |
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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.
www.Ko-Chang.info
lists the most important dates: |
 |
New-year
| As abroad, 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
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
| 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
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. |
Local festivals
& ceremonies
In Trat, on March 23rd,
the Memorial Day,
in remembrance of the exchange of the province
with France takes place. At the end of May/beginning
of June, the Rakam fair,
the celebration of the Rakam fruits, takes
place with a procession and fair. |
In the Salak-Phet-Bay
on Ko Chang, on January 17th , the commemoration
of the battle between French and Thai warships
takes place.
(More information under 'Sights',
'Sea-Battle-Wrecks') |
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