Celebrations for the start of the new year

On the second Saturday in January every year, there is a special celebration for children. Many places let children go in free or half price on this day.

On the 16th January every year, all of the schools in Thailand are closed for the day as a special tribute to the teachers.

The full moon of the third lunar month marks the occasion when 1250 of the Buddha''s disciples came to hear him preach. This day is a public holiday.

A public holiday, commemorating King Rama I who was the first of the Chakri kings.

During April 13-15, everyone celebrates the traditional Thai new year. In every home, Buddha images are washed with rose scented water. People also pay respects to their elders by pouring a little water over their hands. Outside, people go a little wilder and buckets of water are thrown over everything that moves.

A holiday for some factory and office workers.

A public holiday to commemorate the coronation of the king and queen in 1946.

An important ceremony to mark the official start of the rice-planting season.

The full moon of the sixth lunar month is the most important date on the Buddhist religious calendar. It celebrates the Buddha''s birth, enlightenment and death. Every year on this day, teachers from our school take part in a candle-lit procession around the main chapel of a local temple. They carry with them flowers, three incense sticks and a lighted candle. They walk around the chapel three times in a clock-wise direction. Afterwards they listen to a sermon from a monk. This day is also a public holiday.

Buddhist holiday

Celebrations for the Queen''s birthday. This day is also Mother''s Day and a public holiday.

A public holiday, on 23rd October, to commemorate King Rama V who did a lot of important things for Thailand. His many accomplishments include the abolition of slavery, the construction of the railways, the establishment of the post and telegraph services and the creation of the ministerial system.

The most picturesque of the Thai festivals is held on the full-moon of the 12th lunar month. Little candle-lit krathongs are launched onto the water as an offering to Mother Water. People apologize for polluting the water and promise to do better in the future.

Celebrations for the King''s birthday. This day is also Father''s Day and a public holiday.

A public holiday to commemorate the start of the constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Celebrations to welcome the start of the new year.