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| Calendar / Lunar Month | Festival and location | Origin of festival |
|---|---|---|
| January 3rd weekend |
Umbrella Festival Bo Sang village | Cultural |
| January 4 days on weekend nearest the end of the month |
Wood Carving Fair Ban Tawai, Hang Dong |
Cultural |
| February 1st Weekend |
Flower Festival Chiang Mai | Cultural |
| February 1st or 2nd weekend |
Tin Chok Festival Mae Chaem |
Cultural: Celebrates local weaving traditions. |
| February Full moon of 3rd lunar month |
Makha Bucha All temples |
Buddhist:Celebrates a famous sermon given by Buddha. |
| April 13th - 15th |
Songkran All over Thailand, especially the north. |
Ancient Tai-Indian: Traditional New Year |
| May Full moon of 6th lunar month |
Visakha Bucha At temples all over Thailand. |
Buddhist: Celebrates birth, enlightenment & death of Buddha. |
| May-June From 12th day of waning moon of sixth lunar month for 6 days |
Inthakhin Wat Chedi Luang: Especially in the evening when crowds make offerings at the city pillar. |
Ancient Tai-Indian: Pay respects to the city pillar, bring rain & encourage prosperity |
| May-June 6th-7th lunar months |
Rocket Festivals Wat Pa Tung, Wat Phra Non (and several other temples). |
Traditional: Bring rain |
| June 4th day of waxing moon of 7th lunar month |
Suep Jata Muang Offerings made to guardian spirits at the cardinal points of City (Gates, city pillar, etc.). |
Ancient Tai-Indian: Prolong life of city. |
| June 14th day of waxing moon of 7th lunar month |
Liang Pu Sae -Ya Sae Mae Hia near Wat Doi Kham. Medium is possessed by guardian spirit. |
Animist: Propitiate guardian spirits Pu Sae & Ya Sae who live on Doi Suthep. |
| July Full moon and 1st day of waning moon of 8th lunar month |
Asalaha Bucha - Wan Khao Pansa All temples |
Buddhist: Marks the first sermon given by the Buddha & the beginning of the rains retreat. |
| August From full moon of 10th lunar month till end of September |
Salakaphat All temples, esp. Wat Chiang Man, Wat Chedi Luang & Wat Suan Dok. |
Buddhist: Lay merit making. Alms are put in baskets and given to monks by lottery. |
| October 1st day of waning moon of 11th lunar month |
Ok Pansa All temples Tak Bat Devorohana |
Buddhist: End of rains retreat
Buddhist: Celebrates return of Buddha to earth from heaven where he had been teaching his mother. |
| October Till the full moon of the12th lunar month |
Kathin All temples. Thais travel in groups to distant temples. |
Buddhist: Lay merit making. Offerings of robes and alms. |
| November For three days over the full moon of the 12th lunar month |
Loi Kratong (Yi Peng) On waterways all over Thailand. |
Ancient Tai-Indian: Give thanks for water and stop the rains. |
| December Weekend nearest 5th |
Rose Festival Suan Buak Had / Thapae Gate |
Cultural: Beautiful flower displays honor H.M. King's birthday. |
| December 1st - 8th in Lamphun; Dec. 30th - Jan 8th |
Winter Fairs Lamphun: esp. sports stadium beauty contests. Chiang Mai: Provincial Hall |
Cultural: A noisy mix of fun fair, freak shows, and commercial promotions. |
| December In the middle of the month |
Food Festival Suan Buak Had / Thapae Gate |
Cultural |
| December 25th - 31st | Christmas & New Year | Traditional (imported) |