Thailand Festivals

The festival is celebrated not only for religious purposes, but also for entertainment.

New Year's Day
I am glad to know that you are interested in Thai festivals. In fact, Thailand is well-known for her festivals which take place all year round. Whenever you come to Thailand, you can join our festivals.
First of all is New Year's Day. Actually, the official New Year's Day of Thailand has undergone several changes. Once it used to tall at the end of November. Late, during the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910) it was moved to a date round about April and then New Year's Day was changed to April the first.The universal practice of celebrating the New Year on January 1 was adopted in 1941 in deference to the western calendar, and this is one of a number of changes aimed at modernising the country. (Thanapol Chadchaidee, 2000 : 82)
The New Year celebration is an age-old tradition in Thailand. This is evident from the memoir of Father De Choisi of France who served in Thailand as assistant of the French envoy from 1684-1686 during the reign of King Narai the Great. He cited how the people decorated their residences on the occasion and how officials offered blessings to His Majesty the King in the Royal palace. (Public Relations Department, 1968 : 52)
The New Year's celebration actually begins on the evening of December 31. It starts with a party among families, relatives and friends.Presents and cards are given to each other. At midnight fireworks are set off to greet the coming year.
New Year's Day for Thais is the day to make merit by offering food to monks releasing caged birds and fish and going to listen to a sermon at a temple. Then people go to visit their elders and ask them for a blessing. The purpose is to have a good start to a new period in life and to show gratitude to their parents and respected ones.
If it is a long vacation. some people like to travel upcountry to visit their relatives or spend holidays at a tourist spot. At the same time, some companies take this opportunity to give their employees a bonus and to announce promotions.
New Year in Thailand is celebrated much like anywhere else, isn't it? I also enclose a lovely card wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year.
จากหนังสือ "เทศกาล งานประเพณีท้องถิ่น" ระดับมัธยมศึกษา กรมวิชาการ กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ
เรียบเรียงโดย นางสาวนิธิ สตะเวทิน

January

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival
There are many kinds of festivals in Thailand.Today i will tell you about an interesting regional festival in Bo Sang Village in San Kamphaeng District of Chiang Mai Provice.Bo Sang has been well-known for painted Sa paper umbrellas for quite a long time and has become a Handicraft Center.it is so popular that foreign visitors often call it "Umbrella Village".
The Bo Sang Umbrella Festival is held in January (between 15-17 January)every year.This annual event,in the form of a "Streeet Fair",is organized along the main street of the village.Houses and shops on both sides of the road are decorated in Lanna style with lanterns and flags.Sa-made products especially umbrellas and other local goods are on sale.Bo Sang villagers show traditional village life and elephants and parades are decorated with umbrellas.Meanwhile cultural shows,Lively processions contests and entertainment programs add to the festive atmosphere.
Do you know Sa paper? it is paper made by Bo Sang Villagers.Using soft science,they transform mulberry trees into textured paper.Sa paper products are very popular for several reasons-their production does not pollute the environment,each finished plece has an individualistic hand-made look,and the cost is very low.
Are you interested in Bo Sang Umbrella Festival? Visitors are welcomed to participate in nandicraft competitions,too.