Songkran Thai New Year

Happy Songkran Day or in Thai suk-san wan Songkran, this is the greeting used on this festival of the Thai New Year. Songkran is a national holiday for all Thai’s. It is held on April 13 through the 15th.
Songkran is the time to clean the Buddha images with water by pouring it over the image. It is believed this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. Catching the water after it had been poured over the Buddha’s, they used this “blessed” water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder. Some Thai’s will also go to a wat (Buddhist Temple) to pray and give food to the monks.

Today the festival is mainly celebrated by the throwing of water on everyone on the streets. Water guns, buckets and even garden hoses are used. Most people did not mind, as this time of the year is the hottest time for Thailand.

Some Thai’s will also make New Years resolutions during this time. It is a good time for cleaning up the old year and starting the New Year all clean.

This is a very fun Thai holiday to visit, if you did not mind a little or a lot of water. Also most if not all of the larger cities have parades with ornately decorated floats.

Loy Krathong Thai Holiday

Loy Krathong a very festive holiday is held on the full moon of the 12th month on the Thai lunar calendar, this is in November on the western calendar.

The Thai word Loi means ( to float ) and Krathong is the name of a small raft lotus-shaped that is floated down a river. Krathongs are made all sizes. Thai’s also let lose Khom Fai floats. These are a kind of small hot air float made of paper.

Loy Krathong is held to honor the goddess of waterways Mae Nam. This festival is held all through Thailand. In Bangkok everyone gather along the Chao Phraya River. Most of the large restraints with large ponds will float Krathongs as well.

Thai’s believe that by floating the Krathongs down the river will symbolic of letting go of all one’s anger, grudges and misdeeds. This will let one star over with a clean slate so to speak. By letting to Khom Fai’s go into the air, this will help rid them of troubles in their lives.