Today is the Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. It's the festival of lights and is celebrated nationwide like our Fourth of July. Fireworks, parades and food except the Thai make a float that you light and send down the river and light paper lanterns to soar into the sky. It's celebrated on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month (November). The Krathong (a vessel made of banana tree trunk) is decorated with leaves from plants, a candle, 3 joss-sticks (incense) and flowers. Each one is uniquely different as they are made by the person who will float (Loy) the Krathong down the river while making a wish, letting go of sins and bad luck in their life, and honoring the Water Goddess. It's a fantastic festive atmosphere around town and it's very endearing and
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