11th February 1998. Magha Bucha Day, on the full moon in this month we commemorate the time when the Buddha spoke to 1250 monks.

6th April 1998. Chakri Day, a public holiday on 6th April to commemorate King Rama I who was the first of the Chakri Kings.

12th-15th April 1998. Songkran Day, on 13th April we celebrate the old Thai New Year. We show respect to monks and to our elders by pouring water over their hands. We also clean the Buddar images. We also have fun and throw water over our friends.

The day before Songkran, everyone cleans their home. Worn-out clothing and things are burned so they won't carry bad luck into the new year. The Songkran celebrations last for three days. During this time, water is used to purify people and objects. Statues of Buddha are bathed with water. Young people show their respect for elder people by pouring perfumed water into the hands of elders. But the biggest displays of water can be found in the street - if you don't mind getting wet.

5th May 1998. Coronation Day, a public holiday on 5th May to commemorate the coronation of the king.

9th May 1998. Royal Ploughing Ceremony, on 9th May of this year. King Bhumibol oversees the ancient Ploughing Ceremony to mark the beginning of the rice-planting season. This ceremony began in India, but it has been practiced in Thailand for hundreds of years. The ceremony is very important for Thai farmers, because it predicts how much rain will fall and how well the crops will grow. Thousands of farmers come to the Grand Palace to watch.

8th July 1998. Asakha Pucha Day, it's very important day because it is the first time the Buddha spoke to the people.

9th July 1998. Buddist Lent, during the rainy season many people become a monk for three months.

12th August 1998. Mother's Day, it also our Queen's birthday on 12th August.

23rd October 1998. Chulalongkorn Day, a public holiday to commemorate King Rama V who started to do a lot of things like a first hospital etc.

3rd November 1998. Loy Krathong, a festival on the full moon of November. Krathong is a little cup shaped like a lotus flower, each with a candle and incense stick inside. Loy Krathong mean "flotaing Krathongs." This is an offering to mother of water to ask her to forgive us for polluting the water.

5th December 1998. Father's Day, it's also our king's birthday, everyone is celebrating for the king.

10th December 1998. Constitution Day, a public holiday on the 10th December to commemorate the start of the constitution monarchy in 1932