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Songkran Festival is also known as the Water Splashing Festival or Thai New Year. See dates, traditions, things to do, and best places to celebrate in 2025. The Songkran Festival is a national holiday in Thailand. It marks the beginning of the Thai New Year. The word Songkran is derived from the Sanskrit work samkranti, which means astrological passage. Thailand observes 13 April as traditional Thai New Year’s Day. In 1941 during the reign of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), it adopted the Western New Year date of 1 January. The Government has also designated 31 December and 1 January public holidays. Both Thais and visitors to Thailand are invited to ring in the New Year with various Songkran, or Thai New Year, is one of the most significant and vibrant festivals celebrated in Thailand. It ushers in the first day of the traditional Thai solar calendar. The dates of Songkran are April 13th to 15th; thus, it is considered a time for rejuvenation, contemplation, and entertainment. In Siam, New Year is now officially celebrated 1 January. Songkran was the official New Year until 1888, when it was switched to a fixed date of 1 April. Then in 1940, this date was shifted to 1 January. The traditional Thai New Year Songkran was transformed into a national holiday. [6] The Songkran festival is the traditional Thai New Year's Day and is celebrated from April 13th to April 15th. The word Songkran is from the Sanskrit language and means the passage of the sun from one sign of the Zodiac to another. For the sake of this article, we are going to concentrate on the best places to celebrate the international New Year in Thailand. Our guide will help you find a place and event that suits your preferences. Be it street parties, beach parties, gala dinners, or night markets, there will be somewhere for you to go in Thailand. 1. New Year's Eve in Thailand’s biggest annual New Year celebration, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, is set to return to ICONSIAM, located along the scenic Chao Phraya River! The countdown party will run for three days, starting the evening of 29 December 2024. Songkran marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is usually celebrated from April 13-15, though some cities stretch out the fun a few extra days. Chinese New Year 2025. Date: Best Places to Experience Chinese New Year in Thailand 1. Yaowaraj, Bangkok The Chinese New Year is celebrated all across Thailand, In that year, April 1 became the country’s New Year’s Day for the first time. Previously, Thai New Year’s Day was “the first day of the fifth lunar month” as per the lunar calendar. It was not until 1941 that Thailand adopted January 1 as the country’s New Year’s Day. ICONSIAM: A Dazzling New Year Spectacle on the Chao Phraya ICONSIAM: A Dazzling New Year Spectacle on the Chao Phraya. Photo: Shutterstock. Ring in the New Year at ICONSIAM – where festivities reach a whole new level! Thailand’s iconic shopping and lifestyle destination transforms into a vibrant playground of celebration. In this 2025 festive season, spend your winter holiday in Thailand for a unique Christmas and New Year celebration with special Thai decorations, sunny beaches, elephants, sky lanterns, and more! Upcoming holidays in Thailand. Holidays in Thailand 2024. Holidays in Thailand 2025. New Year’s Day, which is on January 1, marks the start of the year in the Gregorian calendar and it's a public holiday in many countries. Songkran, splashy and water-filled New Year festival in Thailand, and, by other names, in Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos as well as in parts of India and China.Songkran is celebrated approximately April 13–15 and marks the entrance of the sun into the astrological sign of Mesha (“ram,” or Aries, according to the Western zodiac). While the Thai solar and Gregorian calendar starts on 1st January the Thai New Year doesn’t. The Thai New Year also known as Songkran, is on the 13th April and extends to the 14th and 15th April. In 2018 the Thai cabinet extended Songkran nationwide to five days, 12th –16th April. This is to enable citizens to travel home for the holiday
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