Once a year, Karen people gather together for the ceremony where the elders tying white thread to the wrists, and everyone sharing wishes to their beloved friends or family members. Traditionally the festival takes place at the time of the August full moon, when Karen tie white threads around the wrists to ward off illness and to contribute to the continuation of Karen culture. The festival has no religious significance.
The Karen elderly people asked for their families and relatives who are away or abroad to come back together once a year for family gathering, sharing food and tying thread to the wrists to show and remember that they are united as one. This tradition becomes part of Karen culture from generation to generation.
"Before Buddhism or Christianity was introduced to the Karen people, their ancient ancestors and great grandmothers and grandfathers, lived in fear of different spirits. Therefore, their parents and grandparents used white thread, which they tied on the wrists of children after calling back their spirits. It meant that the person and one's spirit would stay together and could live free from fear," one of the participants explained in English to the visitors.
People who attend the wrist tying ceremony must wear full traditional costume. The ceremony could only be sponsored by an elderly couple who had lived together as husband and wife for their entire married life. This senior couple called upon the spirits of the children to come back from the place of darkness and to stay with parents, grandparents and relatives. The senior couple then prayed that the young children would behave themselves well, and act with good discipline and preserve our culture. There are seven materials are used for wrist tying ceremony: