Christmas Day *

Thailand is a nation that is overwhelmingly Buddhist, with very few Christians, and Christmas Day on 25 December is only a public holiday in certain provinces of the country. However, despite that fact, the sights and sounds of Christmas are noticeable in the country. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. Note: Christmas Day is observed in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Satun provinces only. Particularly, in hotels and at tourist venues of all kinds, you will see people donning Santa hats and hear them wishing you a merry Christmas. You may also see local shopping malls sporting Christmas lights, trees, and other seasonal decorations. Resorts, hotels, and some restaurants will serve up traditional Christmas dinners. And on the street or on the beach sand, you will encounter people selling all manner or Christmas-related trinkets and souvenirs. There is a mimicking of Western Christmas traditions, but there is also a special Thai spin put on the season as well. The religious meaning of Christmas fades into the background, for the most part, in Thailand, and the fun, family, traditional, and commercial aspects come to the fore.