Thanksgiving - Loy Krathong

Thailand does not celebrate Thanksgiving as it's an American tradition, but I enjoy celebrating as my daughter was born in 1970 on Thanksgiving day! I am so grateful and blessed to share our many happy times traveling together.

This will mark my 4^th Thanksgiving in Thailand and I have taught on every one. I often hear it said that teaching is a thankless job, however I am fortunate that everyday at the end of a class the students say, “Thank You Teacher Rose.” AND every day I say, “Thank You” to the students as they give me so much joy. The smiles and expressions on their faces when a “light-blub” goes off in their head is always a moment of delight for me. I never tire of their hugs and waves, as they say “hi teacher loze,” because the Thais replace the R sound with an L. 

Loy Krathong is always celebrated on the full moon in November so it is sometimes close to Thanksgiving and for me it has similar overtones. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of painstaking effort and time that goes into making Krathongs. All the children made them at school. Even I tried to create one with leaves and flowers artistically arranged, then completed with one candle and three incense sticks...hopefully it will float when placed into the water. YEA, it did on Sunday eve in the little klong (creek) by my house.

Families gather to float the Krathongs in the ocean and many rivers throughout the country. That is often followed by the releasing of  fire-lit hot air lanterns sent skyward to "let go" of the old creating a spectacle to behold.

Loy Krathong began in the 13^th century, and pays respect to Mae Khongkha, Goddess of Thailand's many life bringing rivers.

The festival with roots in Hinduism and Buddhism has taken on an additional meaning; today releasing the krathong symbolizes the letting go of anger, grudges, and bad luck and ushers in a new year of happiness and blessings. May you also "let-go" and be blessed.

 Krathongs floating in the river with a backdrop of Bangkok Temples