Thailand travel notes

You must have heard the saying "If you can only go to Chiang Mai once in your life, choose Loy Krathong!"

On this Valentine’s Day in Thailand, whether you are going with your loved ones or witnessing thousands of lights with your family or feeling the release of thousands of wishes alone, the shock will make you unforgettable forever. Perhaps this is what Chiang Mai is at its most beautiful - when all the love and hope spreads.

What is Loy Krathong about?

Maybe someone will correct me, isn't it the Sky Lantern Festival? In fact, there is no traditional term for "Sky Lantern Festival" but only Loy Krathong, also known as Yee Peng. Yee means "two" in Thai and Peng means "full moon". So Yee Peng means "second full moon", which refers to the second full moon night in the Lanna calendar, which is December 15 in the Thai calendar. The specific time each year is depend on the official announcement.

Loy Krathong is the second largest festival in Thailand, also known as Valentine's Day in Thailand. And the first festival is Songkran (Songkran Festival). It is said that on the night of this day, the traditional Thai people will take a bath, wear traditional clothes and go with their lover or family members to the place where there is water. They let thousands of colorful water lanterns drift into the distance with the current, and let the unhappiness of the past year also drift away. Then everyone will put on the Kongming lanterns on this day. The so-called "Sky Lantern Festival" is actually just an activity of the Loy Krathong Festival.

The Loy Krathong Festival is a national festival, while the Sky Lantern Festival is mainly a regional festival in northern Thailand, organized by local organizations to release sky lanterns. When the sky lit up into the Milky Way, its magnificence was enough to shock everyone present. Because of such a visual feast, this festival is also known as "one of the seven wonders of Thailand".

In fact, the local people in Chiang Mai now do not pay much attention to the Loy Krathong Festival. This festival has become a part of life. There are neither public holidays nor the idea of ​​dressing up. It's just a simple romance that "Go and put a water lantern with your family!" after a busy day.

The activities of Loy Krathong are not only water lanterns or sky lanterns. There are many activities in the city. Various temple ceremonies, beauty pageants, parades, and various markets where you can experience traditional culture will be held during the festival. The venue may change slightly different every year but the schedule remains the same. When you go to the festival, you can arrange your own event itinerary and location according to the official festival schedule. The activities are basically after sunset, so there is no need to worry about sun exposure and poor rest.

A 600-year-old temple illuminates beautifully at night

Wat Phan Tao, an all-teak temple next to Chedi Luang Temple, has a history of more than 600 years and has maintained the traditional Lanna lighting ceremony of Loy Krathong for many years. During the ceremony, a group of monks chanted scriptures to pray for the common people, floated sky lanterns and water lanterns. Then performed traditional songs and dances. The century-old tree is covered with colorful lanterns, like a huge wishing tree, shining in the night.

Unmissable festival activities----see the most beautiful men and women in the city

During the Loy Krathong Festival, the ancient city of Chiang Mai can be described as very lively. In addition to the lanterns for blessings and the paid sky lantern activities at Jielin Temple and Pandao Temple, there are also float parades, traditional craftsmanship experiences, beauty contests, and traditional Lanna dance performances. Full of flirtatious Lanna style.

The float parade is the finale of Loy Krathong! The location is near Thapae Gate, stretching for several kilometers from the city center to the river, and the entire main road is not allowed to drive. The parade lasts for hours. In addition to the different styles of floats, you will see the most beautiful young men and women in Chiang Mai! All districts and counties in Chiang Mai will make their own floats to participate in the parade, which are colorful and charming. At that time, I was still wondering why the men and women in these teams had such high appearances, which seemed to represent the highest appearance in Chiang Mai! It was only later that I learned that the leaders of these teams were Miss and Mr. Lantern, who were elected in the beauty pageant.

After the parade of floats, there will be a traditional beauty contest near Tha Pae Gate to choose the gods and goddesses. The contestants can vote for themselves through talent and answering questions. There are judges on the spot, and the audience can also vote or buy flowers on the spot and give them to contestants to support them. It is very lively. The selected gods and goddesses will participate in the Loy Krathong parade to promote the Loy Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai.