Loy Krathong Day

“Wan Pen Deuan Sip Song
Naam Koh Nong Dtem Taling
Rao Tanglai Chai Ying
Sanook Ganjing Wan Loy Krathong
Loy Loy Krathong
Loy Loy Krathong,
Loy Krathong Gan Laew
Koh Chern Nong Kaew
Ook Ma Ram Wong
Ram Wong Wan Loy Krathong
Ram Wong Wan Loy Krathong
Boon Ja Song Hai Rao Sook Jai
Boon Ja Song Hai Rao Sook Jai…”

I still remember this song since I was a child because just like a popular song that Thai teacher will teach you when you’re young. And we will hear it more often when the Loy Krathong Day is coming. Loy Krathong Day is an important day for Thai people that they follow this old tradition from an ancient Sukhothai tradition. Normally it will start around the middle of November or so because it is the season that will have a lot of water and make the river up higher. Each year we will have Loy Krathong on the night of the full moon in the 12th lunar month. And this year Loy Krathong day will be on the 24th night of November.

Loy means “to float” and Krathong refers to “the things that made for floating” and originally they will make the Krathong from banana leaves and trunk. So all together Loy Krathong is the tradition of floating banana leaf vessel. The Krathong will also be decorated with flowers, candles, joss sticks and coins. At the present everything changed because people like to be more convenient, so they try to use something to replace Krathong from banana leaves like foam, synthetic material, bread etc. So you will see Krathong isn’t made from banana leaves for everyone. Just for a few that they still conserve Krathong from banana leaves.

The only thing that still didn’t change is the aim of people who come for Loy Krathong. Most of them have an expression of gratitude to the goddess of water (Phra Mae KongKa) because it is used by people for a lot of things. They also believe that Krathong carrys all their bad luck away. So usually they will cut their hair and nails and put them in Krathong before floating (just like clean yourself for start and prepare for the new thing coming into your life). Also they will make a wish before Loy Krathong, the most popular is about couples and lovers who will make a wish to stay together through their lifetime. And also some they will watch how far that Krathong can float on the river until it sinks because the length of time the light from the candle burns will signify longevity.

Kind of disappointing for me and Steve because this trip to Thailand we will back to the U.S. on that night so we won’t have much time to enjoy this celebration. But I already told him that at least we will have 2-3 hours for Loy Krathong together. And then we will make a wish for our Krathong…

Have you ever been to Thailand for Loy Krathong yet?

Maybe after we get back we will show you some pictures from Loy Krathong in Bangkok!

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