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| January 1st New Year Day 2005 |
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As most Thais return home to their provinces for
celebrations, different regions of Thailand will come alive with people,
merry-making festivities and enthralling lights, fireworks and sounds. |
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February 9th Chinese New Year |
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The Thais of Chinese ancestry celebrate their New
Year in Chinese tradition with their families. Although not officially a
national holiday, most businesses run by Thai-Chinese close during this
period, providing them and tourists, alike, with an opportunity for
reclusion from the hustle and bustle of daily life. *Not a public holiday |
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February 23rd Makha Bucha Day |
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On the day of the new moon of the third lunar month,
1,250 enlightened monks gathered to hear Lord Buddha preach the
doctrines of Buddhism, nearly three thousand years ago. |
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April 6th Chakri Memorial Day |
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Commemorating the birth of the Chakri Dynasty, of
which King Bhumibol is the ninth monarch (current reigning). |
| April 13-15th Songkran Festival |
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Songkran, the Water Festival, coincides with the
Thai New Year's celebrations of the new solar year. Songkran is one of
Thailand's biggest holiday celebrations, during which every town and
province will engage in 'wet' and 'fun' revelries. |
| May 1st National Labour Day |
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National Labour Day recognizes the important role of
Thai labour workers and honours their contribution to the country on
this day. *Substitution on May 2nd |
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May 5th Coronation Day |
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Commemorating the date of King Bhumibol's accession
to the throne as the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, on May 5th,
1946. |
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May 22nd Visakha Bucha Day |
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Visakha Bucha Day marks the day the Lord Buddha was
born, reached enlightenment as well as ascended to nirvana. *Substitution on May 23nd |
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July 21st Asalha Bucha Day |
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Commemorates the first sermon delivered by Lord
Buddha bringing about the 'Ratanatraya' of Buddhism. *Not an official public holiday |
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July 22nd Buddhist Lent Day |
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Buddhist Lent Day marks the beginning of the 'lent'
period for Thai Buddhist monks. Also a customary period in which a Thai
becomes ordained and enters in to monkshood, coinciding with the
tropical rainy season. *Subsitution on August 2nd |
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August 12th H.M. The Queen's Birthday |
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National celebration of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's
Birthday, also celebrated as National Mother's Day. |
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October 23rd Chulalongkorn Day |
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Commemorating the passing away of King Chulalongkorn
(King Rama V). *Subsitution on October 25th |
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December 5th H.M. The King's Birthday |
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National celebration of His Majesty King Bhumibol's
Birthday and also celebrated as National Father's Day. *Subsitution on December 6th |
| December 10th Constitution Day |
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Commemorating the day Thailand was bestowed her
first national constitution, the transition from Absolute Monarchy to
Constitutional Monarchy in 1932. |
| December 31st New Year's Eve |
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| A holiday for the majority of Thais, most government and major companies are closed on this day. An appropriate time to begin the New Year's celebration in Thailand. |
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Ulster presently contains the counties of Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Tyrone, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Armagh, and Cavan. (Cavan, Monaghan, and Donegal are in the Republic; the rest constitute Northern Ireland.) In ancient times, the extension of Ulster was determined more by the presence of the Ulaid (i.e., the people of Ulster) than any geographical boundaries; this observation applies, of course, to all the geographical divisions of Ireland in ancient times.. Louth, Monaghan, Armagh, and Down were all certainly part of ancient Ulster; as one moves away from this area, the identification becomes more and more vague. The ancient capital was Emuin Machae (var. Emain Macha), which was located near the town of Armagh (approximately two miles west of the town at Navan Fort). The term "capital" does not mean an administrative or legislative center; rather it was the more-or-less permanent site of the royal residence.
Among the legendary persons or groups most prominently associated with Ulster are King Conchubur (var. Conchobar, Conor mac Nessa), Cú Chulaind (var. Cú Chulainn), the important warriors Conall Cernach and Loegaire Buadach, the troublemaker Bricriu Nemthenga (Bricriu of the poisonous tongue, [Dillon 2]), a one-time king of Ulster, Fergus (the name means manly force [Dillon 2]), who resigned in favor of his wife's (Ness) son (Conchobar). Fergus also was a foster father of Cú Chulaind.
Munster (Mumu) contains the present-day counties of Clare, Tipperary, Limerick, Waterford, Kerry, and Cork. In ancient times, it had no clearly defined capital, perhaps because control of the province was not associated with strong dynastic rules as in Ulster.
Some of the legendary persons or groups associated with this province are Fionn mac Cumhal and his Fianna, and King Cormac mac Art (or Aert), an historical figure.
Leinster (Lagin) contains the present-day counties of Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Dublin, Kildare, Offaly, Laois, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Carlow, and Wexford. In ancient times, like Munster, it had no clearly defined capital and did not include Meath or Westmeath. Leinster also shares the Fionn Cycle with Munster. In Co. Kildare, near Naas, is the Hill of Allen. This large hill protruding above the surrounding bog, legend has it, was the site of the camp of Finn and the Fianna.
Connacht (Connachta) contains the present-day counties of Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, and Galway. The ancient capital was Crúachu (Crúachan, present day Rathcroghan in Co. Roscommon). A few of the legendary persons or groups associated with this province are King Ailill and Queen Medb, and Findabair (Gwenivere), who was the daughter of Ailill and Medb. Near present-day Sligo Town is Knocknarea (the legendary burial place of Medb), Benbulben, and Drumkill. In the Ulster Cycle, Connacht is the enemy of the Ulaid, but this may obscure the probable historical conflict between Mide under the Uí Néill and Ulaid. Medb is said to be the daughter of the king of Temuir (Gantz 7)
Meath (Mide) seems to have contained what are now the counties of Westmeath and Meath. The ancient capital was Temuir (Tara), and the Uí Néill dynasty is associated with it. In addition to the ancient royal site of Tara, Meath contained the passage graves of New Grange (Bruig na Bóinde), Knowth, and Dowth, which are regarded with awe in the ancient legends concerning the Ulaid and in the Mythological Cycle. The eastern part of Meath is also known as the kingdom of Brega
Public Holidays Republic of Ireland 2005
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Northern Ireland 2005
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Note: Holiday dates without a title are "bank holidays". Most shops, banks and offices are closed on public holidays, particularly around Christmas and the New Year. Check public transport schedules for these dates as they may be operating on a different basis to normal
