Loy Krathong and Yi Peng: Thailand’s Lantern Festivals of Light and Renewal
For 25 years, Thailand has been my home, its rivers and traditions weaving into my life since I first arrived in Chiang Rai. Now, living in Sukhothai—the very cradle of the Loy Krathong festival—I feel its heartbeat even more deeply. The Loy Krathong festival (or Loi Krathong festival, as some write it) and Yi Peng turn November’s full moon into a celebration of light and gratitude. I’ve watched krathongs float on Sukhothai’s ponds, their candles flickering, and released sky lanterns into the night sky elsewhere, each moment a love letter to this land. These are more than events; they’re the soul of Thai culture. Let’s explore the Loy Krathong festival, the Loi Krathong festival, and Yi Peng, from their Sukhothai roots to their 2025 glow, with the warmth they’ve kindled in me over decades.
The Heart of the Loy Krathong Festival
The Loy Krathong festival—also called the Loi Krathong festival—illuminates Thailand on the full moon of the twelfth month in the Thai lunar calendar, typically November. “Loy” or “Loi” means “to float,” and a “krathong” is a small raft, traditionally crafted from a banana tree trunk, wrapped in banana leaves, and topped with flowers, a candle, and incense sticks. On this evening, Thai people gather at the water’s edge—rivers, canals, lakes—to release krathongs, honoring the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, and letting go of negative thoughts.
Here in Sukhothai, where I now live, the Loy Krathong festival feels like a homecoming. The cost of living is low—17,000 THB a month keeps life comfortable—and watching krathongs float on local ponds under the moon is a ritual of pure connection.
Sukhothai: Where the Loy Krathong Festival Was Born
Sukhothai, my current home, is where the Loy Krathong festival—or Loi Krathong festival—began over 800 years ago, once the heart of the Sukhothai Kingdom. Legend credits Nang Noppamas, a court lady, with crafting the first krathong from banana leaves for her king. He set it to float, igniting the Loi Krathong tradition. Historians debate her tale, but Sukhothai’s Loy Krathong celebrations are a living testament, steeped in history. It’s also a tribute to the water goddess, a belief woven into Southeast Asia’s fabric.
Living here, I feel the Loy Krathong festival’s origins every day—krathongs drifting by ancient ruins are a privilege to witness.
Yi Peng: Northern Thailand’s Lantern Ascent
Yi Peng, or Yi Peng Festival, is northern Thailand’s skyward companion to the Loy Krathong festival. Rooted in the Lanna Kingdom, it fills the night sky with sky lanterns—khom loi—made of paper and bamboo. On the full moon of the second Lanna month, often November, Chiang Mai becomes a canvas of light as lanterns rise. While krathongs float on water, sky lanterns lift prayers upward, a stunning complement to Loi Krathong.
I’ve released khom loi under the moon in years past, their ascent a quiet thrill—a northern Thailand treasure I now admire from Sukhothai.
Loy Krathong Festival and Yi Peng 2025 Dates
In 2025, the Loy Krathong festival glows on November 6, a Thursday evening, with Bangkok’s festivities starting November 5. Yi Peng in Chiang Mai spans November 5–6, synced with the Thai lunar calendar’s full moon. Dates shift yearly—here’s a peek ahead:
2026: Loy Krathong - November 25; Yi Peng - November 24–25
The Loy Krathong Festival in Sukhothai
Living in Sukhothai, I’m at the heart of the Loy Krathong festival. On November 5–6, 2025, the Historical Park’s ponds reflect krathongs, ancient ruins framing the glow. A grand procession—floats, Thai dancers, musicians—winds through, fireworks lighting the night sky. I savor street food during these Loy Krathong celebrations, the Sukhothai Kingdom’s legacy alive in every krathong I see float. It’s not just a festival; it’s my neighborhood’s proudest moment.
The Loy Krathong festival here is history made tangible, a gift I live every day.
The Loi Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai blends the Loi Krathong festival with Yi Peng. On November 5–6, 2025, the old city buzzes with free parades, cultural performances, and krathongs floating on the Ping River. Yi Peng’s pinnacle—mass sky lantern releases at Mae Jo University’s CAD event—dazzles with thousands of khom loi. I’ve stood at Nawarat Bridge in years past, watching krathongs float as lanterns soar—a Loi Krathong festival and Yi Peng harmony.
The Lanna Kingdom’s legacy shines there, a northern contrast to Sukhothai’s roots.
The Loy Krathong Festival in Bangkok
Bangkok’s Loy Krathong festival is a grand affair. On November 5–6, 2025, the Chao Phraya River sparkles with krathongs, their incense sticks trailing fragrance. Wat Arun offers blessings, while Asiatique pulses with cultural performances. Riverside hotels like Mandarin Oriental pair dinners with krathong releases. I’ve watched from the water’s edge, krathongs floating past, the city’s energy softening into reverence.
It’s Thailand’s urban heart embracing the Loi Krathong spirit, a vibrant echo from my Sukhothai home.
Crafting a Krathong: A Thai Tradition
A krathong begins with a banana tree trunk, layered with banana leaves, and crowned with flowers—jasmine, marigolds—plus a candle and incense sticks. Thai people once made their own krathongs, a family craft, but now vendors sell them for 50–100 THB. In Sukhothai, I’ve shaped bread krathongs—eco-friendly, dissolving as fish nibble—avoiding styrofoam krathongs that harm rivers. Watching them float is a quiet joy.
It’s a Loi Krathong ritual that ties me to this land I now call home.
Yi Peng’s Sky Lantern Magic
Sky lanterns—khom loi—define Yi Peng Festival. Lit and released, they float into the night sky, a tradition since the 1990s. Safety concerns—fires, air traffic—sparked bans, but 2025’s controlled releases at Mae Jo keep it alive. I’ve launched lanterns in the north, their heat tugging free, a glow against the moon.
It’s northern Thailand’s soaring gift, a spectacle I now watch from Sukhothai’s grounded beauty.
Balancing Tradition and Environment
The Loy Krathong festival celebrates water, but excess krathongs—especially styrofoam—pollute. Organic ones (banana leaves, flowers) decay, feeding fish, yet rivers need care. In Sukhothai, I’ve joined post-Loy Krathong celebrations cleanups. Sky lanterns risk air pollution, prompting limits. Bread krathongs and fewer lanterns honor the water goddess without harm.
Thailand’s rivers, especially Sukhothai’s, deserve this balance, keeping Loy Krathong celebrations pure.
Loy Krathong Across Southeast Asia
The Loy Krathong festival echoes in Southeast Asia—Laos’ That Luang, Myanmar’s Tazaungdaing—each with floats or lanterns. Yet Thailand’s blend of krathongs and sky lanterns is unique. I’ve seen Laos’ version, but Sukhothai’s Loy Krathong festival and Chiang Mai’s dual festivals stand apart, a Thai masterpiece.
It’s a regional tale, with Sukhothai as its proud origin.
The Soul of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng
The Loy Krathong festival and Yi Peng thrive on intimacy—a farmer’s thanks, a child’s wish, a shared silence. Beauty contests in Sukhothai crown Noppamas lookalikes, parades pulse with life, and every krathong set to float tells a story. After 25 years, now living here, I feel the magic as krathongs float across my hometown, the moon a gentle witness.
It’s Thailand’s essence, radiant and deep, especially in Sukhothai.
Planning Your 2025 Loy Krathong Festival Visit
For November 5–6, 2025, plan ahead—Sukhothai’s Loy Krathong festival draws crowds, Chiang Mai’s CAD sky lantern event sells out, Bangkok’s riverside hotels fill fast. Expect warm nights (25–30°C), street food—grilled fish, coconut sweets—and festivities galore. The Tourism Authority of Thailand shares updates; Sukhothai locals like me know best. I’ve lived this full moon night for decades, and it’s always a treasure.
Let the Loy Krathong festival light your way—start in Sukhothai!
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