Coming Events, Bedrock Guesthouse, Ban Phe, Rayong Province, opposite Koh Samet Island Thailand
Loy Krathong November 21, 2010
A festival of quiet celebration, the origins of Loy Kratong are unclear, but it is believed that it started in Sukhothai, (north of Bangkok) one of the most powerful cities in Asia, around 800 years ago.
Made from the cellulose trunk of a banana tree, the idea behind the kratongs is to put all your misfortunes in a boat, and allow them to literally float away. ("Loy"- to float, and "krathong" - a leaf cup or bowl) Great care is taken to decorate the kratongs with flowers and banana leaves, leaving room for the candles and 3 sticks of incense.
Loy Krathong always falls on Thai school holidays, so during the day the whole family are often involved in making elaborately decorated Kratongs. Some coins, a lock of hair, or nail clipping are placed inside to represent the owner before the kratong is launched on a river, canal, or the sea, accompanied by a prayer.
It's believed the "boat" will carry your bad luck into the distance, and enable a better start to the following year. Loy Kratong is a big night for lovers. Couples who make a wish together on this day will enjoy long-lasting love, especially if their kratongs remain together on the water.
While Loy Kratong is not strictly a religious festival, some Thais believe that it pays homage to the water goddess, Mae Khongkha. Whatever the significance, it's a magical "not-to-be-missed" event.
Songkran Festival April 13-15, 2010
Coming up is the one of the most famous festivals in the world. Songkran Festival April 13-15. Although there is a family side to this festival it appears to be the largest water throwing festival you have ever seen.
Essentially the country stops working for a couple of days and pay the respect to their parents grandparents and then its a major waterfight across Thailand in a extremely friendly atmosphere. I recommend everyone has to see it once in a life time.
The Origins of the Songkran Festival
The Astrological New Year
and the Thai Lunar Calender
Thailand's Songkran Festival is by far the most important event of the year for the Thai people. It's a time of fun and a special time for new year ritual and respect for water, the most important element in the agricultural culture of Southeast Asia. Songkran falls in mid-April every year and has its origins in ancient astrology and the position of the sun. The term Songkran itself means, ''a move or change in the position of the sun from Aries to Taurus,'' it falls sometime between April 10 and April 18 and in Thai tradition it includes the celebration of the end of one year -- 'Troot' -- and the beginning of a new year - 'Songkran'. The phases of the moon and the lunar calendar also play an important role in determining the Thai New Year. Thus, the Thai New Year is a product of astrological as well as lunar features according, to the old Thai lunar calendar.
Today, the official Thai New Year falls in the fifth month of the Thai lunar year. As we will see, at one time in the past it was celebrated in the first lunar month. The reasons for the many factors that determine the timing of Songkran, as well as the reasons for the change from the first lunar month to the fifth lunar month, are partially found in the origins of the Tai peoples in southern China, to their culture of rice farming throughout the ages, and to their adherence to a Buddhist philosophy which incorporates a large degree of astrological belief from ancient Hindu culture. These features as well as the Thai systems of days, dates, months and seasons are the subject of this article, and it is hoped that from these readers will gain a deeper appreciation for the underlying significance of the Thai New Year.
