| Thai Festivals |
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| National Holidays January - The International New Year is celebrated in Thailand much like everywhere else. The first day of January is a national holiday following the previous night’s fireworks. February - Flower Carnival: Over twenty flower-covered floats parade through the city in Chiang Mai. There are beauty contests, a flower exhibition, and cultural performances. March - Makha Bucha: This religious holiday commemorates the occasion of the Buddha’s first sermon to 250 disciples. All are welcome to join the “Wientien” procession under the full moon. Worshippers carry lighted candles, incense sticks, and small flower bouquets while walking three times around the pagoda of a Temple. April - Songkran or Water Festival: All are fair game in this celebration of water throwing to commemorate the Thai New Year from April 13 to 15. Be sure to wear your quickest-drying clothes to the parade, beauty contests, and cultural shows. You may be wet for three days straight. July - Asaraha Bucha: This Buddhist holy day commemorates the Buddha’s sermon to his first five disciples and marks the start of the three-month Buddhist lent called “Khao pansa”. Monks do not leave their temple unnecessarily for fear of harming any living thing during the rain’s retreat. November - Loy Khrathong Festival: This is the most charming of all Thai festivals, the custom of placing hand-made floats decorated with flowers and candles on waterways goes back over 700 years to the Sukhothai Period. In the North it’s called “Yee Peng” and is celebrated for two nights under the full moon. People generally believe that by releasing flower floats and air balloons they get rid of bad luck and give thanks to the water and heavenly elements. Older folks say that it is to show gratitude for the use of the river and water. |
| Thailand has many interesting annual festivals and holidays that hold unique traditions in the culture. |
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| Yao as a novice monk in 1982 |
| Besides the national holidays celebrated below, there are also many holidays and festivals that are celebrated in certain villages and regions in Thailand. |