What the xxxx is ceremony day?

[roger101]

I had this week planned. Friday after golf in the morning I would pop into the bank and get my Immigration letter and in the afternoon go to Immigration for my visa extenuation (my 13th) After waking up on Thursday with the wife at her mothers I thought 'sod it' dont put if off to tomorrow go today. So after breakfast and a xxxx, shave and a  shower off I went to the bank.

No problem, in and out in a few minutes. While there I checked with the girl about a Bank Statement for next year (embassy letter this year) and she said give it a week to come. So later in the day Off I went to Pattaya Immigration. Only to find it shut. A note on the door said '9th May closed Ceremony Day'.

Now what do I do. My bank book and letter are up to date on the 9th. Will Pattaya Immigration except these or will they say go back to the bank and get them redone. I know the bank only charges 100 baht for the letter but I dont want to make wasted journeys either way. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Tanoshi]

May 9th is the official Royal Ploughing Ceremony and is a Government holiday.

[roger101]

16 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

May 9th is the official Royal Ploughing Ceremony and is a Government holiday.

I realise that now but it doesn't help.

[johng]

A bit like "ground hog day" except here they use buffalo to predict if the year will be prosperous or not.

[johng]

I think you'll need to get a new bank letter.

[Pilotman]

11 minutes ago, johng said:

I think you'll need to get a new bank letter.

bank letter should be good for 2 days, you will need to update your bank book on the 10th 

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, roger101 said:

I realise that now but it doesn't help.

Perhaps you should download this list of holidays.  Holidays For 2019.pdf

 

[scottiejohn]

46 minutes ago, roger101 said:

my visa extenuation (my 13th)

So you are not a newbie are you?

If you drink I bet you know what days the bars are shut, like later this month!

[roger101]

Most of the Thai holidays have little or no relevance to me at all. I know the main ones. If the bars are shut i keep enough wine and spirits indoors to to keep me going for days. But thanks for your suggestion and it does look like the most comprehensive list of holidays that I've seen. That should have been a quote reply to Ubon Joe.

[OneEyedPie]

1 minute ago, roger101 said:

But thanks for your suggestion and it does look like the most comprehensive list of holidays that I've seen.

There's only one list if I'm not mistaken.  I could be wrong, though, as this is Thailand and probably quite a few fakes floating about.  

[ubonjoe]

30 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

There's only one list if I'm not mistaken. 

I do that list. I spend a good deal of time in December reaching for the info on it. I also update it when the cabinet adds additional holidays. It is also used for the Thai Visa calendar.

It is the same list that is a pinned topic on the general forum.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

So you are not a newbie are you?

If you drink I bet you know what days the bars are shut, like later this month!

In fairness, the OP is not the first person to assume that when banks are open government offices will be too. The day of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an oddball case where it is not really a public holiday, just a holiday for government officials.

[roger101]

3 minutes ago, BritTim said:

In fairness, the OP is not the first person to assume that when banks are open government offices will be too. The day of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an oddball case where it is not really a public holiday, just a holiday for government officials.

Thay's right. Where I come from there are holidays. Not Public holidays .bank holidays ,government holidays and religious holidays.

[roger101]

Well I suppose its back to Plan A tomorrow. Golf , Bank, breakfast and a trip to Immigration in the afternoon. I decided it wasn't worth the chance of going there and finding out that I have to go back to the bank anyway, besides the bank is on the way back from golf so its not even a detour.

[OneEyedPie]

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I do that list. I spend a good deal of time in December reaching for the info on it. I also update it when the cabinet adds additional holidays. It is also used for the Thai Visa calendar.

Indeed, there's always a few ad hoc additions in LOS due to the unforeseen.  The Muslim calendar is even worse due to the requirement to sight the moon for the various Eid holidays.  When you work in finance then is most problematic. 

[Jip99]

I think it is not unreasonable to expect an expat of 13 years to learn when the public holidays are.

 

No harm done though.

 

I did my extension yesterday (41 days prior to renewal date) as I knew the 9th was a government holiday. 

[Tanoshi]

3 hours ago, roger101 said:

Thay's right. Where I come from there are holidays. Not Public holidays .bank holidays ,government holidays and religious holidays.

I am by no means religious in any way shape or form, maybe other than the odd 'jeeeeezus' exclamation if I hit my thumb with the hammer, but I was always under the impression Xmas and Easter were religious holidays.

Where do you come from that doesn't celebrate either of these events. 

[a977]

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I do that list. I spend a good deal of time in December reaching for the info on it. I also update it when the cabinet adds additional holidays. It is also used for the Thai Visa calendar.

It is the same list that is a pinned topic on the general forum.

Correct me if I'm wrong Ubonjoe but I believe the Kings birthday is not a alcohol free day, I  heard he wanted people to celebrate his birthday

[jacko45k]

Get a Thai Calendar, they give them out free at the banks each year. 

[ubonjoe]

25 minutes ago, a977 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong Ubonjoe but I believe the Kings birthday is not a alcohol free day, I  heard he wanted people to celebrate his birthday

 Not sure what you are writing about. There is no red asterick to indicate the King's Birthday is a no alcohol day on the holiday list.

[monkeycu]

Get a Thai calendar  from your bank ( free ) then you will know when all the Thai government holidays are

By the way after 13 years you don't know when the ploughing day is  ????

Don't worry even my wife finds out the hard way most years, 

[KittenKong]

15 hours ago, roger101 said:

My bank book and letter are up to date on the 9th. Will Pattaya Immigration except these or will they say go back to the bank and get them redone.

I have never had any trouble at Jomtien with bank letters that are dated a day or two before the application. YMMV.

[KhunBENQ]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Get a Thai Calendar, they give them out free at the banks each year. 

I print my own and use marker to highlight holidays and other important dates (90 day etc.).

 

BUT: this Ploughing Ceremony is an example where the (my) bank calendar does NOT work.

I have one from SCB and the 9th is not marked in any way.

What I assume:

the date is determined by some "Brahman priests" too late for the printing of the calendar.

And then also you have to be alert for extra specials like the crowing ceremony and that extra holiday on the 6th which is also not on the calendar (same reason).

And any other day one of the leaders might decide on short note that it is time to donate another holiday to its beloved people. Extra care around Songkran and New Year.

 

Monday May 20th is the next government holiday.

[ubonjoe]

25 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

And any other day one of the leaders might decide on short note that it is time to donate another holiday to its beloved people. Extra care around Songkran and New Year.

Monday of this week does not appear on most calendars since it was added by Cabinet in February.

If have found this calendar  (in Thai but Google translate works good) to be a good reference and they keep it updated. http://event.sanook.com/calendar/2562/

[owl sees all]

The first and the sixteenth (any month) are the most important dates for most Thais.

 

I think the best way is to take note of the Thai Lotto draw dates. Last draw should have been on the first, but was done on the second. Must have been a special day on the 1st.

 

Got caught out a few years ago by women's international day.

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

I have one from SCB and the 9th is not marked in any way.

It is labelled on my Bangkok Bank one, and a slightly different colour, similar to the Saturdays, but not the red used for bank holidays and Sundays.