New Year's Celebrations

The New Year's Eve (วันสิ้นปี) and the 1st January (วันขื้นปีใหม่) are public holidays in Thailand. It is an occasion for religious and festive events.
On New Year's Eve, Thai people go to Thai Buddhist temples to make merit (free birds, fishes...) and donations (offer buckets, money, rent Buddha statues...). They also come to listen to Dharma speeches told by monks.
Famous Thai temples often organize feats to attract visitors and donators. Temples near rivers might organise boat contests.

For New Year holiday, many Thai people go back to their home in Thai provinces. Bangkok has lost its traffic jams for a few days. It is recommended to book bus in case of trip. Thai police also make many controls as casualties are numerous due to alcohol abuses.

Many Thai people also organize evening feasts for New year's eve. Often Thai people go from one feast to another. At midnight and during the following days, everybody greets each other with the saying "Sawatdee Pi Mai" (สวัสดีปีใหม่), i.e. happy new year!

In the evening, there might be a music concert organized in the temple compound. In Isan area orchestra music is "Luuk Thung" (ลูกทุ่ง) or "Molam" (หมอลำ).
Most Thai people don't celebrate Christmas. In Bangkok during Christmas, shopping centers are decorated with trees and snow. For New year's eve, Thai people offer gifts.

During the Buddhist sermon, some laymen and laywomen prepare the trays dedicated to the monks.
On the 1st January morning, Thai people go to Buddhist temples to listen to the Dharma and make donations to the monks.
After the Buddhist ceremony, everybody leaves the temple. A new day is starting but it is the first day of a new year.

For the new year first Buddhist sermon, Thai people are smarter and wear their most elegant clothes.