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On the full moon night of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, Thais celebrate one of the most beautiful festivals known as Loy Kratong. It usually falls in the month of November when the tide is at its highest in the whole year.
Loy Kratong
Loy means to float and kratong means lantern or little vessel made in resemblance of a lotus flower. Loy kratong is the festival where people float candle-lit lanterns in the water - mainly in rivers, canals, ponds and the sea on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month.
In the past, lanterns were usually made of a piece of sliced banana-tree trunk, which floats on the water. It was then decorated to resemble a lotus flower. Intricately folded banana leaves, in the shape of lotus petals, would be gathered around the circular edge to form the shape of an open lotus flower.
Then a candle, 3 incense sticks and beautiful flowers would be put inside the lantern. Today you can find lanterns made from styrofoam, baked flour and other materials. Among various types of lanterns, the baked flour kind has become quite popular because it also feeds the fish in the river.