A week on Wednesday our school will be celebrating the Thai festival Loy-Krathong. I haven’t checked if it works out but it is supposed to be held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. Although it is usually November.
Below is part of the explanation I was emailed today:
What is Loy-Krathong?
Loy-Krathong is one of the most beautiful festivals that takes place in Thailand. This is celebrated on the full moon in November. The word loy means to float, and a krathong is a banana leaf cup. People place a candle and incense sticks in their krathongs and then float them on a local river or pond. As they push away their krathong, they ask for forgiveness in polluting the waterways and also for good luck in the coming months.
The email also contained details of what we will be doing to mark this festival:
- Loy-Krathong Presentation.
- Listen to the story of Loy-Krathong Festival.
- Thai dance club will be performing Thai dance.
- Best Thai costume contest (Teachers & Parents).
- Float Krathongs in the puddle pool by all class representatives.
- Prize announcement of short article about Loy-Krathong festival for Year 6 – Year 9.
- Reception students perform a Thai folk dance (Rum Wong).
- Parents invited parents to join in Thai folk dance.
There is a really good Thai Tourism Loy-Krathong website worth a look for some great pictures (including the one at the top of the post) of the countries celebrations and more background information.
Find out how to make your own Krathong with my How-To make a Krathong guide.
