Festivals

Chiang Mai just finished participating in two Buddhist festivals. One of them, Loi Krathong, is celebrated throughout all of Thailand. The other, Yi Peng, is celebrated at the same time, but only in Chiang Mai. It is a festival from the time of the Lanna kingdom in northern Thailand.

Loi Krathong is celebrated by floating offerings down the river in order to honor and appease the spirit of the river. Offerings of flowers, incense, coins and candles are placed on banana leaf or bread boats.

Everyone gets their own krathong, or offering, to float down the river. I am sure that many people float more than one. 

Yi Peng festival is celebrated by releasing rice paper lanterns into the night sky. Thousands and thousands of these lanterns are released on the actual night of Loi Krathong, as well as the days leading up to and right after Loi Krathong. The releasing of the lanterns signifies the letting go of bad luck and as people let them go they pray for good luck. Each lantern is released with prayers, not to the God of heaven but to their ancestors and the spirits.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we are learning more and more about Thai and Northern Khmer culture, and how to reach them with the gospel of Jesus.