Loy Krathong

 "Loy" means to float and "Krathong" refers to the boat used in the celebration.

Loy Krathong is a holiday celebrated on the 12th full moon of the year, this year it was held Wednesday, November 28. This festival is to pay respect and thank the god of water for giving all the goodness. It can also represent the letting go of worries.






People create Krathongs, or boat, out of banana trunk slices elaborately decorated with banana leaves and flowers. A candle and incense sticks are also on the boat. Some boats are made out of bread, so the fish can eat it. On the night of Loy Krathong people lite the candle and incense sticks on their krathong, make a wish and send it into a body of water. It is believed that if couples make a wish together and send off a krathong they will stay together in the future.





This is a huge festival in Thailand. Two days before they decorate and hold events. Below are pictures of a events the night before at the pier.

Muay Thai boxing competition

All decorated like a carnival!

 The night of Loy Krathong we went to a pier right behind our school.We saw many families and students from school; as well as staff from our school. It was a neat atmosphere. Another big event the night of Loy Krathong is a beauty contest. Here's a picture of the one behind our school.

Another part of Loy Krathong is floating a Khom Loy (floating lantern) into the sky with hopes of misfortune flies away with it. When we looked out our patio window we could see the skyline lit up beautifully with so many lanterns floating into the night sky! We set ours flying away into the night sky off the Wat Khema pier as well.

    We stumbled into the assistant director (assistant principal) of our school on the pier. She was so excited to see us and took tons of photographs! Her friend spoke great English and served as a interpreter between us. She told us all about Loy Krathong and how to send a Krathong off into the water. She stressed we had to make a wish together before letting it go.
First, we needed a krathong. We found the stand with Wat Khema teachers selling krathongs that students had made. We grabbed one and headed back to the river. Stopping briefly to light the candle.

our krathong

Making our wish

Letting it go into the water - together

It was a special night filled with many new and beautiful things! One last parting shot - Josh with our first pop in a bag. Note: this is very common in Thailand, everything is in a bag!!