มาลอยกระทงเป็นคู่
[maa loy krathong pen kûu]
Celebrating the Loy krathong festival with a partner…

ทำร้ายจิตใจคนโสด
[tam ráai jìt jai kon sòde]
hurting single people’s feelings.

ปรับ 2,000 (บาท)
[pràp sǎwng pan (baht)]
Penalty 2000 Baht

[ – – – Vocabulary – – – ]

ลอยกระทง [loy grathong]: to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival
เป็นคู่ [pen kûu]: in pair / in a group of two
ทำร้ายจิตใจ [tam ráai jìt jai]: to hurt (one’s feelings)
คนโสด [kon sòde]: single person
ปรับ [pràp]: to fine

[ – – – The Story of the Thai Loy Krathong – – – ]

Every year in November, Thai people celebrate the Loy Krathong festival by floating small boats made of banana leaves on a river, lake, or canal. The small boats are often decorated with flowers, incense and candles. “Loy” means “to float” and “Krathong” refers to the small boats as pictured on the left.

Although “krathong” are usually put for sale in fresh markets and supermarkets a few days before the festival and can even be bought on site (by the river or lake) on the day of the festival, some people put in effort to create one themselves. Primary school children often get to learn to make their own as a part of their art activity.

The purpose of this tradition is to pay respect as well as to apologize to the Goddess of River. People usually make wishes before they release their “krathong” onto the water, asking the Goddess for wealth, health, happiness, and success. Some people put some coins in the boats as an offering to the Goddess. Don’t be surprised if you see some folks floating in the water with all the krathongs. They’re there to collect the coins.

While this festival can be celebrated with anyone, younger people in a relationship often plan it for a romantic date night. Jokes are made about single people having to celebrate “Loy Krathong” alone. You may think it’s as sad as being single on the Valentine’s Day. But thankfully, in reality, people hardly celebrate the festival by themselves. Single people usually have fun floating the boats with their friends or family or just stay home watching TV.

Picture credit: wikipedia

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