Sunday, November 21st, 2010

Loy Krathong ~So Beautiful*

Tonight…make sure you are near the beach for one of the most beautiful Thai Holiday, Loy Krathong!

Almost every river, canal, beach front and night-sky will all be glowing with the water offerings and paper lanterns released tonight.

Loy Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November.
“Loi” means “to float”. “Krathong” is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions use specially made bread ‘flowers’ and may use styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc.
During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river. In addition, fireworks and beauty contests take place during the festival.
A Beauty Queen Contest is an important part of the festival and for this occasion it is called “The Noppamas Queen Contest”.
Noppamas is a legendary figure from the Sukhothai period. Old documents refer to her as the chief royal consort of a Sukhothai Kng named “Lithai”. Noppamas was said to have made the first decorated Krathong to float in the river on the occasion.

Posted Sunday, November 21st, 2010 at 4:55 pm in out and about.

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