The New Year is undoubtedly one of the most universal celebrations around the globe. Regardless of the religion, tribe, country, and background, most individuals go the extra mile to celebrate the New Year. So, this leads us to ask about how Thailand celebrates the New Year.
Thailand celebrates the New Year in numerous ways such as hosting countdown parties, gift-giving, sharing good times with friends and family, and lots more. With these celebrations, people in Thailand get a good chance to relax and have fun with others as they welcome the New Year. The fun starts on December 31st and continues to January 1st.
Of course, there are several other things you need to know about the celebration of the New Year in Thailand. Some particular places are well-known as the hubs of the New Year celebration in the country. Therefore, this article will focus on explaining different things that you need to know about how Thailand celebrates the New Year.
Is New Year a public holiday in Thailand?
Let’s start by shedding light on whether the New Year is a public holiday in the Land of Smiles or not. Without mincing words, both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day (Dec 31st and Jan 1st) are public holidays in Thailand. So, most corporate/office workers and students don’t have to go to work or school these days. As a consequence of this, it is usually easy for people in Thailand to prepare themselves to welcome the New Year.
Ways to celebrate New Year in Thailand
Generally, Thais have some particular ways of celebrating the New Year. The ways include:
- Countdown parties
One of the common ways through which Thailand celebrates the New Year is by enjoying countdown parties. These are parties designed to welcome the fresh year in different locations around the country. CentralWorld, Asiatique, and other big brands around Thailand often host awesome parties for people looking forward to the New Year. Parties are held in rooftop bars, beaches, and other awesome venues across the country.
These countdown parties are filled with lighting displays, fireworks, laser shows, entertaining live music performances, and several other things. Similarly, DJs and musicians are present at these parties to make the atmosphere more enjoyable for both the locals and foreigners.
According to Fanclubthailand.co.uk, Thais get khom loy lanterns, which are released into the sky some minutes before the year arrives. All these activities are part of the celebrations of the New Year in Thailand.
If you want to enjoy parties in Thailand as a fresh year starts, check out various locations on Traveltriangle.com and Asiahighlights.com.
- Corporate parties
As stated by learnthaiwithmod.com, some Thai companies also organize corporate parties for their staff as a part of the celebration of the New Year. During the celebration, different kinds of food are made available to the workers. They can also enjoy varying shows. Even coworkers can exchange gifts.
- Merit making
Expectedly, some people may not consider partying as a good way to welcome the New Year. So, in Thailand, merit making is another option for celebrating the start of a year. Lots of Buddhist temples around the country host merit-making events for the New Year. Such events are held on the eve of the New Year. Therefore, you can walk into the temples to make merit.
It should be noted that you don’t have to be a Buddhist before taking part in the New Year’s merit-making. The event is open to everyone as long as you can observe the basic rules of the event. Most of the attendees will put on white tops as they signify purity, but you don’t necessarily need to adorn white clothes before making merit.
- Sharing time with family
As noted by Tasteofthailand.org, Thais also celebrate the New Year by sharing a good time with their family members. Many locals will travel to their family or ancestral homes to meet with lots of their family members. Some may just share a great time whereas others may participate in some rituals that can make the holidays memorable. While sharing a good time, Thais drink, eat, and do several other things.
- Eating seafood
Seafood is considered special food in Thailand. As a result of this, most Thais go the extra mile to eat seafood during the New Year celebration. If you visit restaurants in different areas of the nation, you will find different locals and foreigners enjoying seafood. Some may even prepare and eat seafood at home. Shellfish, giant prawns, crayfish, mussels, etc. are some of the favorites of Thais during the New Year celebration.
- Travels
For Thais living in Bangkok and other big cities, the New Year is the time to travel to smaller cities to enjoy some serenity and calmness. As the celebration continues, people visit Chiang Mai, Khao Yai, and other cities. In these places, they take relax and take pleasure in the cold weather.
- School activities
Although New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day are public holidays in Thailand, some Thai schools still organize parties for their students. During the activities, the students will come together to eat, have fun, and exchange gifts. Some schools may even host games and other performances that the students can participate in.
Who is New Year Celebration in Thailand for?
Unlike Christmas, the New Year celebration doesn’t have any religious connotations. Therefore, there is no restriction on who can celebrate the New Year in Thailand. People from different religions enjoy the various activities organized to welcome the New Year in Thailand.
Besides, the New Year activities in Thailand are meant for both the locals and foreigners. So, if you are in Thailand during the New Year celebration, you can take part in the fun-filled celebration without any issues.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Thailand has different ways of celebrating the New Year. So, if you would like to experience the New Year celebration in the country, you should not hesitate to join other individuals in the aforementioned activities.
