2024-12-30
If you travel to Thailand and see the year 2567 on a receipt or in a document, it can feel confusing because it doesn't match the Western year, which could be 2024 or 2025 depending on when you're reading this. Thailand uses a different calendar than we in the West - the Buddhist time reckoning. Here you will find out why and how it works!
Buddhist chronology: 543 BC
Under king Reign of Rama V (1868–1910) it was decided to introduce the Buddhist calendar as a national standard. It is based on the year of the Buddha's enlightenment, which occurred 543 years before our era.
How does the Buddhist calendar work?
- add 543 years to the Western year to get the Buddhist year.
- Example: Year 2024 in the west is 2567 in the Buddhist calendar until April, when the Thais celebrate their New Year (Songkran).
This is how the calendars are used today
The Buddhist calendar is used in official contexts in Thailand, for example in government offices, schools and in some documents. At the same time, the Western calendar is used in international contexts and in tourism to facilitate visitors.
Songkran: When Thailand changes the year
The Thai New Year, Songkran, falls in April each year. That's when the year officially changes from 2567 to 2568 according to the Buddhist calendar. Until then, it still is 2567, even though we in the West have already stepped into the year 2025.
Songkran – the Thai New Year – is celebrated every year in April with water games and merriment, as the country simultaneously changes years according to the Buddhist calendar. Image by zixww2020, licensed from Pixabay (original image).
During Songkran, the water games symbolize purification and a new start, where water is used to wash away the old year and welcome the new with joy and blessings.
Extra: Chula Sakarat - The calendar before today's reckoning
Did you know that before the Buddhist calendar became standard, Thailand used a calendar called Chula Sakarat, or "the little era"? It started in 638 according to our modern time reckoning and was used until the end of the 1800th century.
What was special about Chula Sakarat?
- Starting point: The time was counted from the year 638 in our calendar.
- Use: The calendar was used for religious and administrative purposes.
- An example: If it was year 1800 in our calendar, it was year 1162 in Chula Sakarat.
This calendar is an exciting part of Thailand's history and shows how the reckoning of time has changed over time.
Text: The editorial staff
Image license: sasint, Pixabay, original image