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By Edie Wilcox@ Written November 2005
This month I want to share and talk about one of the loveliest and most popular festivals in Thailand; Loy Krathong. Dates for this celebration fluctuate yearly, but they always coincide with the November full moon.
During the festival, people make their way to nearby klongs (canals) or rivers in the early evening hours to set their krathongs afloat. What is a krathong?
This was our first Loy Krathong in Thailand so we also wanted to know all about the krathongs and the reasons for the masses of people along the river. “Loy” means ‘to float’ and “krathong” means ‘leaf cup’.
Loy Krathong is a Thankgiving festival to honor the Water Goddess for providing a profusion of precious water for a bountiful harvest. Loy Krathong is a time when a pale yellow, full moon is low in the sky and all the rivers and klongs are brimming over at the end of the rainy season. Children and adults alike float their krathongs in rivers, canals, even swimming pools, believing this will bring good luck with the next harvest season. In the rural areas, children flock to the rivers near their homes, some getting there on motorbikes, water buffalo carts, or on foot; most make wishes for a better future, good crops and clean, drinking water. In the city, wishes will vary but most will be in agreement with good health and prosperity.
Krathongs are small bowls made of either interwoven banana leaves or paper mache; some are made of bread dough, varnished with resin. Most children will make their own krathong projects in school much the same way we make our own Valentines in February. krathongs may also be purchased in stores; there are all kinds of different ones all over to
wn. Once the krathong is made, flowers, a candle and three incense sticks are placed in it. All three are lighted -- as well as the candle -- before the krathong is placed on the water. People generally make a wish once the little vessel is released. Some believe that if the candle remains burning until the krathong is out of sight, their wishes will come true. By the end of the evening, there are hundreds of flickering lights bobbing up and down rivers and canals all over Thailand. Firework displays as well as puppet shows and beauty contests are also part of the celebrations.
Most hotels along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok have special (and expensive) events to celebrate the occasion with food, beautifully designed krathongs, beauty pageants and cruises down the river to witness the glowing displays.
Loy Krathong is a 700 year-old event derived from the old Kingdom of Sukhothai, the first monarchy of what is now the Thai Peninsula.
The first celebration hallmarked the monsoon season’s conclusion and the most important rice harvest of the year. Historians observe that the festival parallels the farming Hindu tradition of thanksgiving; a blessing of sorts, for the abundance of rainwater received.
In fact, Sukhothai farmers created the practice of floating candles down rivers and canals to carry their gratitude and best wishes to the water spirits; there’s also the tale of a beautiful kingdom woman who made the first special lanterns for the festival, she made them from banana leaves and shaped them like lotus flowers. The king was impressed with what he saw, thus he announced that krathongs would be floated down all waterways every year from then on. Today, the memory of that woman who made the first krathong is remembered in the beauty contests that take place all over Thailand on Loy krathong Day.
Some people place money in their krathongs, take a bow, and set them afloat along the crowded waterways, chock full of wishes and dreams.
Once krathongs are out of sight families play with fireworks and eat Tom Yum, a delicious and spicy soup made with shrimp, lemon grass and rice. On the whole, the festival celebrates a joyous family day.
Following are some accounts of Loy Krathong from some of the elementary school children I visited.
In their own words:
Manee: “On Loy Krathong I saw a full moon in the sky. I went to the river at the town hall. I went with my father, mother and sister. I took a krathong I made at school. I lighted the candle and incense sticks in my krathong. I pushed it away onto the water and prayed. After I finished floating it, I played lucky dip. I won three marbles, some sweets and toilet paper. I played with fire works and firecrackers.”
Tanet: “On Loy Krathong Day I went to the river by motorcycle. I went with my sister. I floated my krathong in the river. I saw many salespeople selling krathongs, fireworks and fire crackers. I lighted the candle and incense sticks. Afterwards, I played hide and seek. I bought three tickets for 30 baht. I won toilet paper and sweets.”
Orawan: “Yesterday I went to the river near my house with my family. We took our krathongs to float. After praying, I floated my krathong. Afterwards, I bought some fireworks and fire crackers. I then played with my sister and brother. At the river I met my friends. I chatted with them for a while. Then I went to a restaurant with my family. We ate some rice and chicken fried in fresh chili paste with lemon grass and basil.”
Bapoo : “I went to Loy Krathong with my mother and my sister to the river. There was a full moon in the sky and the water was high. Many people were there. We floated our krathongs from a boat in the river. First we lighted the candle and incense sticks. Then we took a vow for good luck. Then we pushed our krathongs away. After we finished we ate in a restaurant. We ate rice noodle soup with vegetables and meat. It was very delicious. Then we played lucky dip at the Red Cross stall three times. We won a glass, a pen and a plate. Then we went home.”
By Edie Wilcox@ Written November 2005
This month I want to share and talk about one of the loveliest and most popular festivals in Thailand; Loy Krathong. Dates for this celebration fluctuate yearly, but they always coincide with the November full moon.
During the festival, people make their way to nearby klongs (canals) or rivers in the early evening hours to set their krathongs afloat. What is a krathong?
This was our first Loy Krathong in Thailand so we also wanted to know all about the krathongs and the reasons for the masses of people along the river. “Loy” means ‘to float’ and “krathong” means ‘leaf cup’.
Loy Krathong is a Thankgiving festival to honor the Water Goddess for providing a profusion of precious water for a bountiful harvest. Loy Krathong is a time when a pale yellow, full moon is low in the sky and all the rivers and klongs are brimming over at the end of the rainy season. Children and adults alike float their krathongs in rivers, canals, even swimming pools, believing this will bring good luck with the next harvest season. In the rural areas, children flock to the rivers near their homes, some getting there on motorbikes, water buffalo carts, or on foot; most make wishes for a better future, good crops and clean, drinking water. In the city, wishes will vary but most will be in agreement with good health and prosperity.
Krathongs are small bowls made of either interwoven banana leaves or paper mache; some are made of bread dough, varnished with resin. Most children will make their own krathong projects in school much the same way we make our own Valentines in February. krathongs may also be purchased in stores; there are all kinds of different ones all over to
wn. Once the krathong is made, flowers, a candle and three incense sticks are placed in it. All three are lighted -- as well as the candle -- before the krathong is placed on the water. People generally make a wish once the little vessel is released. Some believe that if the candle remains burning until the krathong is out of sight, their wishes will come true. By the end of the evening, there are hundreds of flickering lights bobbing up and down rivers and canals all over Thailand. Firework displays as well as puppet shows and beauty contests are also part of the celebrations.
Most hotels along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok have special (and expensive) events to celebrate the occasion with food, beautifully designed krathongs, beauty pageants and cruises down the river to witness the glowing displays.
Loy Krathong is a 700 year-old event derived from the old Kingdom of Sukhothai, the first monarchy of what is now the Thai Peninsula.
The first celebration hallmarked the monsoon season’s conclusion and the most important rice harvest of the year. Historians observe that the festival parallels the farming Hindu tradition of thanksgiving; a blessing of sorts, for the abundance of rainwater received.
In fact, Sukhothai farmers created the practice of floating candles down rivers and canals to carry their gratitude and best wishes to the water spirits; there’s also the tale of a beautiful kingdom woman who made the first special lanterns for the festival, she made them from banana leaves and shaped them like lotus flowers. The king was impressed with what he saw, thus he announced that krathongs would be floated down all waterways every year from then on. Today, the memory of that woman who made the first krathong is remembered in the beauty contests that take place all over Thailand on Loy krathong Day.
Some people place money in their krathongs, take a bow, and set them afloat along the crowded waterways, chock full of wishes and dreams.
Once krathongs are out of sight families play with fireworks and eat Tom Yum, a delicious and spicy soup made with shrimp, lemon grass and rice. On the whole, the festival celebrates a joyous family day.
Following are some accounts of Loy Krathong from some of the elementary school children I visited.
In their own words:
Manee: “On Loy Krathong I saw a full moon in the sky. I went to the river at the town hall. I went with my father, mother and sister. I took a krathong I made at school. I lighted the candle and incense sticks in my krathong. I pushed it away onto the water and prayed. After I finished floating it, I played lucky dip. I won three marbles, some sweets and toilet paper. I played with fire works and firecrackers.”
Tanet: “On Loy Krathong Day I went to the river by motorcycle. I went with my sister. I floated my krathong in the river. I saw many salespeople selling krathongs, fireworks and fire crackers. I lighted the candle and incense sticks. Afterwards, I played hide and seek. I bought three tickets for 30 baht. I won toilet paper and sweets.”
Orawan: “Yesterday I went to the river near my house with my family. We took our krathongs to float. After praying, I floated my krathong. Afterwards, I bought some fireworks and fire crackers. I then played with my sister and brother. At the river I met my friends. I chatted with them for a while. Then I went to a restaurant with my family. We ate some rice and chicken fried in fresh chili paste with lemon grass and basil.”
Bapoo : “I went to Loy Krathong with my mother and my sister to the river. There was a full moon in the sky and the water was high. Many people were there. We floated our krathongs from a boat in the river. First we lighted the candle and incense sticks. Then we took a vow for good luck. Then we pushed our krathongs away. After we finished we ate in a restaurant. We ate rice noodle soup with vegetables and meat. It was very delicious. Then we played lucky dip at the Red Cross stall three times. We won a glass, a pen and a plate. Then we went home.”
