January
1 January – New Year’s Day (Wan Khun Pee Mai).
January – Bo Sang Umbrella Festival – The Festival is held in Bo Sang Handicraft Center. The festival features Paper products, Paper Parasols in particular, Culture Shows, a Parade showing Traditional ways of life, and several contents. |
February
February – March - Magha Puja (Makha Bucha) Based on Thai lunar calendar (the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the third lunar month), Theravada Buddhist holiday.
February – Flower Festival – The Festival includes Ornamental Garden Flower Contests, Floral Floats Parade in the morning, and Beauty Pageants. The Parade begins at Chiang Mai Railway Station, passes the Nawarat Bridge, and ends at Nong Buak Hat Park (South West corner of the Moat) where there are Flower displays and Entertainment. |
March
13 March - Thai Elephant Day. Be nice to elephants all year. |
April
6 April - Memorial Day – (Chakri) Commemorates King Rama I, founder of the Chakri dynasty.
13 April – Great Songkran Day – The Revered Phra Phutthasihing Buddha image is paraded around Chiang Mai town for bathing.
13 – 15 April – Thai New Year – (Songkran Festival) - This is the Buddhist New Year Celebration and is known as the “Water Festival”. This Festival marks the start of the Rainy Season. The Origins of the Festival is where you pour a little water on a Buddha Statue to Make Merit. (Atone for doing bad things in the past.)
The word “Songkran” comes from the Sanskrit word “Samkranta” which means to pass or to move. 13 April is “Maha Songkran Day” or New Year’s Day. This is also known as the Spring Equinox where the day and night are of equal length. During Songkran you make Merit for three full days:
- 13 April – Maha Songkran Day – End of the Old Year
- 14 April – Wan Klang or Wan Nao – Preparation Day
- 15 April – Wan Taleung Sok – New Years Day
People will also pour about half a cup of water on the shoulder of others to give them Good Luck for the new year. This has deteriorated into a Free-For-All Water-Fight. Prepare for Songkran by placing all your Valuables in Plastic Bags to prevent Water Damage. Wear light clothes and PREPARE TO GET WET.
There are also Sand Pagoda Making and Drum Contests. |
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May
May – Vesak – (Visakha Bucha) - Based on Thai lunar calendar (the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the sixth lunar month), Theravada Buddhist holiday.
May – Soi Suthep Pilgrimage – (Visakha Bucha Day) – Worshippers gather to light candles and make the 7-kilometre pilgrimage up to the Temple on Doi Suthep.
5 May – Coronation Day - Commemorates the coronation of the reigning king, Bhumibol Adulyadej. |
June
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July
July - Asalha Puja – (Asanha Bucha) - Based on Thai lunar calendar (the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month), government only, Theravada Buddhist holiday. |
August
12 August – Mother’s Day - Commemorates birthday of the current Queen. |
September
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October
23 October - Chulalongkorn Day – (Wan Piyamaharat) - Commemorates King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the anniversary of his death. |
November
Loi Kratong Festival (Yi Peng Festival) – This Festival marks the end of the Monsoon period. It is celebrated for two nights under the Full Moon.It is a Festival where you can purchase a Kratong (a Floating Flower Arrangement) that you can release on the Ping River and get Forgiveness for all your Sins for the past year. Releasing the Krathongs is a celebration which goes back over 700 years. There are Entertainments and Parades down the River Road near the Main Market. The Festival features launching Lanterns into the Sky to worship the gods along with Fireworks, Lantern Contests, and Beauty Pageants. |
December
5 December - National Day and Father's Day - Commemorates birthday of the current king.
10 December – Constitution Day - Commemorates the change to constitutional monarchy in 1932.
31 December – New Year’s Eve. |
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