Thai holiday breaks in May
Thailand’s commercial sector, banks and government offices enjoy two long weekend breaks starting with a substitution day for Labour Day, that falls on Monday 2 May and Thailand’s Coronation Day, 5 May followed by a special holiday 6 May.
This year, Labour Day (1 May) falls on a Sunday, which gives Thailand residents a substitution day holiday Monday 2 May. Thai travellers can pack their bags and fly to their favourite holiday destinations late Friday for a three-day break. Some savvy travellers take an extra day off Friday and start their travels late Thursday.
Labour Day was adopted to give workers an opportunity to take a break, although Thailand’s workers arrive at this holiday already refreshed by a five to seven-day break during the annual Songkran Festival in mid-April.
inside no 10Labour Day is observed in more than 80 countries, worldwide.
After returning to work 3 May, the next public holiday, Coronation Day rolls in, Thursday 5 May. The bonus this year is the additional day off, Friday 6 May, compliments of the government. It gives Thailand’s residents a four-day break through to Sunday evening.
These long-weekend breaks are life-savers for hotels throughout the country and usually there is a spike in travel to neighbouring countries most of it on low-cost airlines.
The 5 May holiday marks the coronation day of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, who is the world’s longest reigning monarch.
Coronation Day is known in Thai as Wan Chatramongkhol. It involves religious and civil ceremonies.
HM the King came to the throne in June 1946, following the death of his elder brother. As he was only 18 at the time, the new monarch returned to Switzerland to complete his studies before returning to Thailand for the official coronation 5 May, 1950.
The coronation anniversary starts with making merit or a “tham boon” ceremony 3 May to honour HM the King’s ancestors. Later on the same day, another ceremony is performed, to present flags of honour to distinguished military units.
On 4 May, Buddhist ceremonies continue with chanting and sermons as well as rituals performed by Brahman priests.
On 5 May, His Majesty the King, or his selected representative, conducts a merit making ceremony, presenting offerings to Buddhist monks, and leads a “Wien Thien” ceremony, (walking three times around the courtyard of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha).
In the evening HM the King conducts another sacred ceremony: changing the yellow robe on the Emerald Buddha, the guardian symbol protecting the Thai people.
Reception halls and rooms in the Royal Palace are open to the public on Coronation Day. There are usually big crowds throughout the day at both the temple and palace, as residents and visitors take the opportunity to enter the palace halls and view Royal project exhibitions.
