Loy Krathong is the Thai community's Thanksgiving
- Nov 23, 2017
- 3 min read
Thanksgiving is a time for feasting, spending time with relatives and shopping to your heart’s content, but for the Thai community, Thanksgiving is a time to launch one’s krathong on the water and make a wish.
Loy Krathong is one of Thailand’s grandest and most colorful festivals, and is widely celebrated in the twelfth Lunar month on the night of the full moon. This year, it was celebrated on Nov. 8 in Thailand, and was observed by floating buoyant, decorated baskets on a river, canal or a pond while making a wish.
The word “Loy” means to float and “Krathong” is a lotus-shaped floater made from banana leaves or styrofoam. The krathong usually contains a candle, three incense sticks, some flowers and a coin.
When launching a krathong, one lights the candle or incense sticks and holds the lantern up to make a wish before gently releasing the krathong into the water. The floating krathong symbolizes letting go of one’s past transgressions and negative thoughts while aspirations and prayers flow with the water and are offered to the spirits.
The holiday has already been celebrated in Thailand, but for the Thais in Miami, the only time they can truly celebrate their holiday is on Thanksgiving.
“Most Thai restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving,” Noi Kalof, a local Thai, said. “And we want those people who work in restaurants to come, help out and partake in merit-making.”
Every year, Wat Buddharangsi holds a “Loy Krathong” festival, a free event open to the public, to not only celebrate one of the most festive times on the Thai calendar, but to help the Thai community share their culture with the rest of Miami. It’s a chance for the busy Thai community to be together and join in on their culture’s traditions.
Much like Thanksgiving, Loy Krathong is a day of blessings and giving thanks.
Sanit Songpra, one of Wat Buddharangsi’s resident monks, said, “[W]e give thanks to the water for all that we receive from it — drinking water, bathing water — and while we may sometimes dirty our waters, we take the opportunity to use the krathong to thank the Goddess of Water for all that she has done for us.
A giant blue pool sat near the entrance of the temple, and in the middle of the pool stood statues of the Buddha. Behind was a giant banner welcoming everyone to the 2017 Loy Krathong Festival. Guests could purchase beautifully decorated and thoughtfully crafted floating lotus baskets and float them in the pool.
But it’s the scene beyond the giant pool that really brought out the authentic flavor and culture of the Thais.
The scene was reminiscent of a market scene in Thailand, with vendors selling traditional Thai food and drinks, such as sticky rice and grilled meats in between stretches of mango and longan trees that line the temple grounds.
Handmade goods and other Thai trinkets hung from tree branches for display and decoration. And no Thai market is complete without the usual bartering of a marketplace.
In the middle of the festival stood a large tent where attendees sat, communal style, enjoying their Thai meals and exchanging words and laughter. They were also treated to live singing and traditional Thai dance performances provided by local Thais and children.
“It gives us a chance to make Thanksgiving our own holiday too,” Kalof said.
Thais and other locals were also able to take part in the temple’s usual traditional rituals, such as a morning prayer, providing material offerings to the monks, and chanting before meals to express gratitude.
People from all over who represent Miami’s melting pot of nationalities had a chance to come out and enjoy an American and Thai holiday. Loy Krathong is much more than floating pretty baskets and making a wish — in Miami and on Thanksgiving, it’s about experiencing a new culture, letting go of one’s negativity, and merit-making. Loy Krathong is the Thai community’s Thanksgiving.
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Photo Credit: Maytinee Kramer
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