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Constitution Day

    Constitution Day (Thai: วันรัฐธรรมนูญ) is observed in Thailand on 10 December. It focuses on the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand and is listed in Thailand’s holiday calendar as a national public holiday.1,2

    History

    The date recalls 10 December 1932, when King Prajadhipok granted the Constitution of the Kingdom of Siam after the transition to constitutional monarchy.2 The holiday links the date with Thailand’s public memory and with royal, national or governmental institutions.1,2

    The holiday sits at the intersection of monarchy, law and modern state institutions. It does not celebrate a seasonal festival; it commemorates a constitutional milestone that changed how political authority was formally organized in Thailand.2

    Customs

    Observances may include official ceremonies, merit-making, tribute-paying activities, exhibitions or public service events. The exact programme depends on the character of the holiday and on announcements by state or royal institutions for the relevant year.2

    Because the day is institutional rather than religious, public observance is more likely to involve official statements, exhibitions, educational material or ceremonies by government bodies than household rituals. Schools and public institutions may also use the date to discuss constitutional history.2

    Good to know

    For visitors, Constitution Day may feel quieter than Songkran or royal birthdays. Its practical effect is mainly as a public holiday, while its historical importance lies in the constitutional transition associated with 1932.1,2

    Legal status

    Thailand’s holiday calendar lists the day as a national public holiday. Where the date falls on a weekend, only the substitute holidays shown in the site calendar are moved to the following Monday.1

    Sources

    1. List of public holidays in Thailand (ASEAN-Japan Centre)
    2. Constitution Day 2021 (Parliament Museum)