The Cabinet has announced May 4 as the new Coronation Day official holiday. The new holiday date marks the day that His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn took the throne. The previous Coronation Day was May 5, when the late King Rama IX was enthroned. Assistant government spokesman Athisit Chaiyanuwat said the change would give Thailand a total of 19 official holidays, the Nation reported. This includes the recently announced new holiday of June 3, which is the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Suthida. Queen Suthida recently married King Vajiralongkorn on May 1. The government said the birthday of the previous reigning queen Sirikit, August 12, remains a public holiday and Thailand’s Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, Royal Gazette has announced that December 5, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday, has been named the National Day and the Father’s Day, making it one of the most important days in the Thai calendar.
Official holidays and important dates in Thai calendar:
Jan 1 – New Year’s Day
Feb – Makha Bucha Day (date may vary – full moon in February) *
April 6 – Chakri Memorial Day
April 13-15 – Songkran
May 1 – Labour Day
May 4 – Coronation Day
May – Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day (date may vary)
May – Visakha Bucha Day (date may vary – full moon in May)
June 3 – Queen’s Birthday
July – Asahna Bucha Day (date may vary – full moon in July)
July – Beginning of Lent Day (first waning moon in July) *
July 28 – King’s Birthday
Aug 12 – Queen Mother’s Birthday and National Mother’s Day
Oct 13 – King Bhumibol Memorial Day *
Oct 23 – King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day
Nov – Loi Krathong (date may vary)
Dec 5 – King Bhumibol’s Birthday Anniversary, National Day and National Father’s Day
Dec 10 – Constitution Day
Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve
* Sale of Alcohol Prohibited
