Public holidays in Thailand

Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors. There are usually sixteen public holidays in a year, but more may be declared by the cabinet. Other observances, both official and non-official, local and international, are observed to varying degrees throughout the country.

All public holidays are observed by government agencies, while the Bank of Thailand regulates bank holidays, which differ slightly from those observed by the government. Private businesses are required by the Labour Protection Act to observe at least 13 holidays per year, including National Labour Day, but may choose the other observances they follow.^[1] If a holiday falls on a weekend, one following workday is observed by the government as a compensatory holiday.^[2]

Public holidays

As of 2017, there are seventeen annual public holidays adopted by the cabinet:

• ^a Holidays regulated by the Thai lunar calendar—the usual Gregorian months in which the dates fall are indicated in parentheses. In lunar leap years, these take place one month later.
• ^b Alcohol sales are prohibited on Buddhist holidays except in international airport duty-free shops.^[3]
• ^c Not observed by the Bank of Thailand and usually not observed by the private sector.

During 1957–2016, there were sixteen annual public holidays adopted by the cabinet.^[4] With the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the list of annual public holidays for 2017 has been revised by the cabinet in April 2017.^[5] Coronation Day, which was previously observed on 5 May, is removed.

New public holidays for 2017 are:

• 28 July: King Maha Vajiralongkorn's Birthday
• 13 October: Anniversary for the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Chinese New Year, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are also observed as public holidays by government agencies in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Satun Provinces (see below under § Other observances).^[6] Government offices under the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education may also observe the Thai Armed Forces Day and Teachers' Day, respectively (see § National observances below).

Bank holidays

Holidays observed by financial institutions (not to be confused with bank holidays in the United Kingdom) are regulated by the Bank of Thailand. These usually differ from government holidays in that banks do not observe the Royal Ploughing Ceremony day (Phuetchamongkhon) or the beginning of Vassa (Khao Phansa), but instead do observe 1 May as National Labour Day (see below under § National observances) and 1 July as the mid-year bank holiday. (Prior to 2007, the beginning of Vassa was observed as a holiday rather than Asalha Puja.) Chinese New Year, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are also designated as holidays for financial institutions in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Satun Provinces if they do not already fall on a weekend or holiday.^[7]

National observances

These observances are regulated by the government, but are not observed as holidays. Actual observance varies, and some are only observed by specific sectors.^[8]

Other observances

Other observances, traditional and modern, are observed by various groups and communities throughout the country.

• ^a Observances regulated by the Thai or Chinese lunar calendars—the usual Gregorian months in which the dates fall are indicated in parentheses.
• ^b Alcohol sales are prohibited on Buddhist holidays except in international airport duty-free shops.^[3]

See also

• Thai lunar calendar
• Thai solar calendar

References