Songkran
Thai New Year Celebrations

Songkran, Thai New Year Celebrations takes place during April.

Loy Krathong
Annual Thai event usually held in November.

Loy Krathong Festival Day

One of the most popular Thai festivals usually held on a November's night when the moon is full and the the monsoons have left the water levels high.

Loy Krathong is a name for a float decorated with banana leaves, fresh flowers, candle and incense sticks. All over Thailand on a November night after a short prayer or wish the Krathong is placed in water, traditionally a river where it  floats down stream.  It's believed to bring luck if the flame on the Krathong keeps burning until the float is out of sight.

Festival celebrations in Chang Mai, Thailand saw a beautiful display of floating lanterns ( Khom Loy ) sent into the nights sky as can be seen in the November 24th 2007 Loy Krathong festival floating lanterns video.

The next video, Loy Krathong festival in Bangkok shows the celebrations taking place around the Rama VIII Bridge overlooking Chao Phraya river. There's Thai singing and dancing as crowds of people gather to say prayers and make wishes before releasing their Krathong to drift away into the river. Thai's swim in the water or take small boats to look for Krathongs carrying money,  often a few small coins will be placed among the flower decorations which is  believed to bring good fortune.

Loy Krathong festive celebrations don't only take place in Thailand,  Thai temples, restaurants  and  other places within Thai communities around the world will usually hold an event.

Loy Kratong Nov. 2007, Washington, DC  shows the highlights of Loy Krathong 2007 in Washington.  Thai food, dancing and singing  are on offer during all these events to mark the festive occasion.