Thailand officially adopted January 1 as its New Year’s Day in 1941.
Before that change, the traditional Thai New Year was linked to Songkran in April, following the sun’s passage into Aries. The reform aligned Thailand’s civil calendar with the international Gregorian-calendar convention, although Songkran remained an important traditional festival.
The change did not erase Songkran’s religious or cultural role. April celebrations continued to include temple visits, merit-making, family reunions, water blessings, and respect for elders. The modern distinction is therefore between the country’s official civil New Year on January 1 and its traditional cultural New Year celebrated at Songkran.
A common mix-up is to assume that Songkran stopped being the Thai New Year after 1941. In practice, it remained the traditional New Year festival and is still one of Thailand’s most important annual celebrations.