Chiang Mai City Pillar Inthakin Festival
Many towns and cities in Thailand house what is known as the ‘city pillar’ which is made of wood or stone and is often located at the geographical heart of the city. Traditionally, these pillars were created when a new settlement was established. Different regions of Thailand have different names for these pillars, but in [...]
Isaan Rocket Festivals
The north-east of Thailand, a region known as Isaan, has traditionally been a pre-dominantly rural farming area and it is this region that holds one of Thailand’s more unusual festivals every May. In particular, the town of Yasothon has become renowned for the Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival to herald the start of the rice-planting [...]
Royal Ploughing Ceremony Predicts Good Year
At the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony held in Bangkok this morning, a good year ahead has been predicted for the rice crop. The prediction has been made by the royal astrologer following the traditional ancient ceremony in which two oxen pull a wooden plough over ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang. Afterwards, the oxen were offered [...]
Visakha Bucha Day
The holiest of all Buddhist holidays is commemorated on the full-moon day of the sixth lunar month (known as the Visakha month) which normally falls in May. Three defining events in the life of the Lord Buddha all took place on the Visakha full-moon day: he was born, 35 years later he achieved enlightenment and [...]
Coronation Day of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Coronation Day, known in Thai as Wan Chatramongkhol, is commemorated in Thailand on May 5 every year with the day celebrated as a public holiday. The present king of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, came to the throne in June 1946 following the death of his brother. Because he was only 18 years old, a decision [...]
National Muay Thai Day
In Thailand, March 17 is the day when those involved in Thai boxing (Muay Thai) celebrate a hero of the sport. Boxer’s Day isn’t a public holiday, but there are commemorative events at various Muay Thai stadiums and training camps and it is a day with particular significance for the town of Ayutthaya, the home [...]
Public Holiday for Makha Bucha Day
Today is a public holiday in Thailand for the important Buddhist day known as Makha Bucha (may also be written as Maka Puja and various other combinations). Makha Bucha Day marks the event where 1,250 of the Lord Buddha’s disciples spontaneously gathered to hear him preach.
In the morning, Thai Buddhists may make merit by [...]
