What is the name of the third day of Songkran, the actual New Year?

The third day of Songkran, the traditional New Year, is called Wan Thaloeng Sok. The Thai name วันเถลิงศก is commonly translated as “the day of beginning a new era or year.”

In the traditional three-day sequence, April 13 is Wan Maha Songkran, April 14 is Wan Nao, and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok. Wan Nao is the transitional day between the old and new years; Thaloeng Sok is the point at which the new year is traditionally considered to begin.

Songkran was once Thailand’s official New Year. The country later moved its official New Year to January 1, first changing from Songkran to April 1 in 1888 and then to January 1 in 1940. Songkran nevertheless remains a major national holiday and cultural celebration. The most common confusion is calling April 13 the actual New Year, because it is the best-known public festival date, even though the traditional sequence places the new year on April 15.