Thailand Public & National Holidays 2012

Thailand Public & National Holidays 2012

Thailand Public Holidays 2012

Below is a list of Thailand’s public & National holidays for 2012. Businesses and government offices will be closed on National holidays while tourist attractions, clubs, and shops generally remain open. Many holidays such as Loy Krathong and Visaka Bucha day are based on the lunar calender so will change dates from year to year.

In the event that a National holiday falls on a weekend the substitution day is the first business day after the holiday and generally all banks, businesses and government offices are closed.

The holiday calender is located in the right sidebar year round for your convenience.

Please visit the Thailand Calender of Events for all the other great Thailand Festivals and Events throughout the coming year.

1 January 2012
(Sunday)
New Year’s Day
The beginning of the western new year is a national holiday in Thaland, one of three “new year” holidays celebrated every year.
2 January 2012
(Monday)
New Year’s Day (Substitution)
Some businesses may be closed.
23 January 2012
(Monday)
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.
7 February 2012
(Tuesday)
Makha Bucha
Makha Bucha celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon in to his disciples.
6 April 2012
(Friday)
Chakri Day
Chakri Day commeorates the founding of the current dynasty, Rama I.
13 April 2012
(Friday)
Songkran
Songkran is the traditional Thai new year, generally celebrated as a water festival.
14 April 2012
(Saturday)
Songkran
Second day of this three-day holiday.
15 April 2012
(Sunday)
Songkran
Third of the three days of Songkran.
16 April 2012
(Monday)
Songkran (Substitution)
Some businesses may be closed.
1 May 2012
(Tuesday)
Labor Day
International labor day is celebrated as a national holiday, even though there isn’t much ado about it
5 May 2012
(Saturday)
Coronation Day
Celebrates the day in 1949 when the current king was crowned.
7 May 2012
(Monday)
Visakha Bucha
The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha.
19 May 2012
(Saturday)
Royal Plouging Ceremony
A government holiday only, this ceremony revives an ancient blessing of the plants and ceremonial start to the new growing season. The action takes place on Bangkok’s Sanam Luang in front of the Grand Palace.
3 July 2012
(Tuesday)
Buddhist Lent
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.
12 August 2012
(Sunday)
Queen’s Birthday
Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country’s Mothers Day as well.
13 August 2012
(Monday)
Queen’s Birthday (Substitution)
Some businesses may be closed.
23 October 2012
(Tuesday)
Chulalongkorn Day
Celebrates the life of one of Thailand’s most revered kings on the anniversary of his death.
28 November 2012
(Wednesday)
Loy Krathong
Not a national holiday, but an evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings on any and all waterways around the kingdom.
5 December 2012
(Wednesday)
King’s Birthday
His Majesty the King’s birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also serves as the nation’s Fathers Day.
10 December 2012
(Monday)
Constitution Day
December 10th celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution.
31 December 2012
(Monday)
New Years Eve
The day before the western new year day is always a national holiday.
talensig

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4 Responses to Thailand Public & National Holidays 2012
  1. Catherine
    January 7, 2012 | 7:00 am

    Thanks for sharing this Talen. I was just this week arranging a few holidays for the year so a reminder comes in handy.
    Catherine recently posted..Thai Language Thai Culture: Thai Golf Vocabulary Words and Their StoriesMy Profile

    • Talen
      January 8, 2012 | 12:52 am

      Cat, it’s always a good reminder for me when I make this post every year too…

  2. dakine
    January 7, 2012 | 4:33 pm

    Thanks for the dates of Holidays for Thailand. I believe that Loy Krathong is 28 November 2012. Your list shows it as 29 October 2012.

    • Talen
      January 8, 2012 | 12:51 am

      Thanks Dakine, I had somehow inadvertently put in the wrong date and didn’t catch it when I published.

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