New Year Day brings joy for the people of Thailand. The advent of the New Year is actually celebrated by the Thais 3 times a year the first on 1st January, second on the Chinese New Year and the third on Songkran festival. 1st January has been declared a national holiday and Thais indulge in all kinds of celebration acts on the day.

The Celebration
The Thais greet the New Year with enthusiasm, holding several Thai conventional and cultural festivities. The people perform meritorious acts in the early hours while other pars of the day are spent in merry-making. Many youth in big cities like Bangkok have adopted the modern ways of celebrating the occasion, whiles others have stuck to folk entertainments.

Many Thais leave for their hometowns to spend time with their family. Large number of people also leave for tourist spots to make the most of the New Year holidays. Chinese New Year is also celebrated, especially by the people of Chinese origin, with great zeal.