The Loy Krathong festival is afamous Thai tradition which takes place on the evening of the full moon on the 12th lunar month of the Traditional Thai Calendar. Being dependent on the cycle of the moon it may change from year to year but generally takes place in November. This month is a peak flood tide period for all rivers in Thailand, particularly at the central river basin of the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya and Bangkok. Therefore It is an appropriate time for this celebration. The word Krathong means a buoyant decorated with lit candles and flowers. Traditionally Thais believe that the Loy Krathong festival is to ward off all misfortunes by putting coins or hair cuttings into a Krathong with flowers and lit candles to then let it float away on the river. Also, to ask for forgiveness from the Goddess of Water after having washed everything in the river during the past year. For Buddhists it is also a festival to worship the Lord Buddha whose footprint is believed to exist at the bottom of the Num Matha Natee River in central India.

Today, as well as on rivers, people also float their krathongs on lakes, ponds, out to sea and even across swimming pools. They celebrate by wearing Traditional Thai clothes and often hold a party with fireworks and crackers until late at night. Some people light and release small, hot balloons made of paper into the sky. In Chiangmai for example, there are traditional huge paper hot air balloon competitions. However, these can affect the safety of aviation and so there are now specific controls of when balloons can be launched with specific time schedules so the balloons do not interfere with flights taking off and landing.

 Loy Krathong  originates from the age of Sukhothai, the first capital for the Thai people. It was considered The Golden Era of Thailand  (1900 B.E. or 1350A.D) when people lived peacefully and King Li ruled. At that time. Lady Noppamas, a concubine of the King, wrote many  stories about Sukhothai culture. For example: making flower trays to welcome guests of the city and ,at full moon night of 12th. lunar month, hanging lotus shaped lanterns on a rack to worship Lord Buddha. This is the origin of the Loy Krathong Festival.

Many hundreds of years later in the era of Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin ( Bangkok), lanterns in lotus shapes were raised to the tops of poles to worship the Lord Buddha. These were then lowered down and put on to the river to worship the Goddess of Water. This ceremony is the royal ceremony today for the general public, usually only one krathong per person is sent floating out onto the water.