Loy Krathong is a significant festival occurring every year in Thailand; and in surrounding countries. Everyone celebrates it on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. On this night, everyone goes to the closest river, lake, beach or even swimming pool to release a floating offering, and wish for good luck in the year to come.
Loy Krathong is meant to thank and apologise the water goddess as well as for good luck, thanking her for using her water to grow the crops and support all life year-round. It’s also a way to say sorry for making the water dirty. As a token of gratefulness and apologies, a small decorated round raft usually made of a banana tree trunk slice or bread decorated with flowers, nicely folded banana leaves, a candle and three incense sticks on top.
The Krathong is then floated in the water and taken away by the stream. Couples release one Krathong each, hoping they will drift away together, a sign of everlasting love. The wind often blows out the candles though. In the old days, people also trim their nails and put a bit of hair in the Krathong, wishing that it will take the bad luck and illness away. More often than not we're in Chiang Mai for this wonderful, spiritual event, but just occasionally we're able to make it to the country's largest venue, Sukhothai, absolutely jaw-dropping!!
