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Loy Krathong
The dates of these Buddhist festivals change each year, as they follow the traditional lunar calendar. More specifically, they take place on the evening of the full moon during the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. (This usually falls during the month of November.) Loy Krathong is a celebration of thanks to the gods for the rain and the rice harvest, as well as a chance to repent for the pollution we’ve created in our environment. The historical origins of Loy Krathong are not entirely clear, but this is one of the most important holidays in Thailand. Loy Krathong is the opportunity to atone for one’s sins during the previous year and make a wish for success in the year to come. People will symbolically place a floating krathong* onto the river as they repent and make a wish. If the krathong stays lit until they can no longer see the floating vessel, their wish will come true. Loy Krathong is a festival that is celebrated in many parts of Southeast Asia.
Loy Krathong Dates from 2022-2030
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| 2022 | November 08 | TUE |
| 2023 | November 28 | TUE |
| 2024 | November 16 | SAT |
| 2025 | November 06 | THU |
| 2026 | November 25 | WED |
| 2027 | November 14 | SUN |
| 2028 | November 02 | THU |
| 2029 | November 21 | WED |
| 2030 | November 10 | SUN |
About Loy Krathong
Loy Kratong, which translates to “floating banana tree trunk,” is a festival where people gather along Thailand’s riverbanks to float banana trunks. The banana trunks (Krathong) are typically shaped like a lotus and decorated with flowers, incense, candles, personal items, and craft-store buys. The history and reason behind this beautiful festival are complex. It’s believed that Loy Krathong originated in Sukhothai, an ancient city situated around five hours from Bangkok. The festival is not necessarily a religious holiday. For some people, however, it’s a day to pray and give gratitude to the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, as well as to ask for forgiveness for using too much water or for polluting the water as they float their banana trunks into the rivers. Many people also believe that floating Krathong is a symbolic way to brush off bad luck, let go of anger or grudges, and cleanse misdoings and misfortunes from the past to start anew and free of negative feelings. If your candle stays lit until you can’t see your Krathong, it means that you’ll have a year of good luck. If not, well, better luck next time. Thai people traditionally release their Krathong into the rivers and small canals. However, today, people also release the Krathong into a lake or pond. With thousands of lightened banana trunk boats floating down waterways in Thailand, Loy Krathong is definitely one of the most enchanting festivals in the country. Besides releasing Krathong, the festival is also full of many fun performances. You can see and hear fireworks, stroll around streets filled with a lineup of vendors, parades, and even beauty pageants known as “Noppharat Queen Contests.” It’s common to see Thais wearing traditional Thai clothing during the festival.
Yi Peng
Yi Peng is known for the releasing of wish lanterns into the sky. Yi Peng is the festival of lanterns you are most likely familiar with. In preparation for this festival, people create lanterns and hang them outside of their homes and donate them to temples, which represents resisting the darkness and welcoming a brighter future. On the night of the Yi Peng festival, people make a wish and release their own lanterns - khom loy - into the sky. It is said if your lantern stays lit until you can no longer see it, your wish will come true. Yi Peng is a Lanna (Northern Thailand) tradition. In the last few years, some touristy places in the Thai islands have started releasing lanterns to draw more visitors, but the real celebration is in the north of Thailand, specifically in Chiang Mai.
Day Before the Full Moon
- Mister and Miss Yi Peng contest
- Handmade krathong contest, which are floated down the Ping River
- Ceremony of young monks releasing lanterns at Wat Phan Tao
- This is also the day locals and travelers release sky lanterns
- Locals release krathongs (floating boats) into the river
- Second and last evening to release sky lanterns
- Final processional through the city. (One of the best spots for viewing this parade-like event is near the East Gate (Pha Thae Gate) where the entire procession will pass right by you. Don’t feel like you have to stay and watch the whole thing, because it can go on for hours!)
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