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Public Holidays

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The Thai Calendar

Thailand has adopted the western calendar to divide the year into days, weeks and months, using Thai names for these units. Years are numbered according to the Buddhist era (BE) which commenced 543 years before the Christian era. Therefore 2007 AD is BE 2550 and 2008 is BE 2551.

National public holidays Thailand's national public holidays are linked to religious or agricultural traditions and follow the lunar calendar, therefore the dates for some of the holidays change each year. For the precise dates of the lunar holidays and festival locations, check www.tourismthailand.org

The following are national public holidays in Thailand :

1 January 2008 (Tuesday)	New Year's Day The beginning of the western new year is a national holiday in Thaland, one of three "new year" holidays celebrated every year. National Holiday
8 February 2008 (Friday)	Chinese New Year The beginning of the Chinese lunar year is celebrated in the Chinatowns of every city throughout Thailand. Some businesses close for the day, but it is not a national holiday.
21 February 2008 (Thursday)	Makha Bucha Makha Bucha celebrates the Buddha's first sermon in to his disciples. National Holiday
6 April 2008 (Sunday)	Chakri Day Chakri Day commeorates the founding of the current dynasty, Rama I. National Holiday
7 April 2008 (Monday)	Chakri Day (Substitution) Some businesses may be closed.
13 April 2008 (Sunday)	Songkran Songkran is the traditional Thai new year, generally celebrated as a water festival. National Holiday
14 April 2008 (Monday)	Songkran Second day of this three-day holiday. National Holiday
15 April 2008 (Tuesday)	Songkran Third of the three days of Songkran. National Holiday
1 May 2008 (Thursday)	Labor Day International labor day is celebrated as a national holiday, even though there isn't much ado about it National Holiday
5 May 2008 (Monday)	Coronation Day Celebrates the day in 1949 when the current king was crowned. National Holiday
19 May 2008 (Monday)	Visakha Bucha The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha. National Holiday
12 August 2008 (Tuesday)	Queen's Birthday Her Majesty the Queen's birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country's Mothers Day as well. National Holiday
16 August 2008 (Saturday)	Buddhist Lent This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist 'lent' period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth. National Holiday
18 August 2008 (Monday)	Buddhist Lent (Substitution) Some businesses may be closed.
23 October 2008 (Thursday)	Chulalongkorn Day Celebrates the birthday of one of Thailand's most revered kings. National Holiday