✨ A Magical Night in Thailand
Every November, Thailand sparkles with candlelight as thousands of tiny boats drift across the water. Families gather by rivers, lakes, and ponds to celebrate Loy Krathong, one of the country’s most beautiful festivals.
At JAM Kids House, our little learners love this special day — a celebration filled with color, laughter, and kindness.
🪷 What Does “Loy Krathong” Mean?
The name comes from two Thai words:
- “Loy” (ลอย) = to float
- “Krathong” (กระทง) = a small boat or basket made from banana leaves and flowers
When we float our krathongs, we’re letting go of worries and sending out wishes for good luck, happiness, and fresh beginnings.
💧 Learning Gratitude and Care
For children, the festival is a beautiful way to learn about thankfulness and respect for nature.
They discover that water isn’t just something we use every day — it’s life itself.
By offering their handmade krathongs to the river, children say thank you to the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, and learn the joy of giving back.
🌸 Family, Fun, and Hands-On Learning
At home and in nurseries across Thailand, little hands get busy creating colorful krathongs from natural materials.
Parents, teachers, and friends work together — folding banana leaves, adding flowers, candles, and sometimes even bread that fish can eat later!
It’s a fun activity that teaches creativity, patience, and teamwork.
🔮 A Festival Full of Meaning
Beyond the beauty of lights and music, Loy Krathong reminds families to start anew, forgive past mistakes, and share love with others.
As candles drift away into the night, children watch with wonder — their faces glowing as brightly as the floating lights.
🏮 Coming Up Next…
But where did this amazing tradition come from?
Let’s take a gentle journey back in time to discover how Loy Krathong began and what stories lie behind this magical Thai festival.
🌕 The Story Behind Loy Krathong
📜 A Tradition That Began Centuries Ago
The story of Loy Krathong goes back hundreds of years, to the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom — often called the first capital of Thailand.
Legend says that a young woman named Nang Noppamas, who was a lady in the royal court, created the very first krathong to honor the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.
The king was so impressed by its beauty and meaning that he encouraged everyone in the land to take part — and so, the tradition began!
🪔 Why We Float the Krathong
Each candle, flower, and incense stick in the krathong carries a wish.
The candle represents light and hope.
The flowers show respect and love.
The incense carries prayers into the air.
When we place our krathong on the water, we let go of sadness, forgive mistakes, and start fresh — together with our families.
🌊 A Festival of Thanks to Nature
In Thailand, water is life — it gives us food, helps our rice grow, and keeps everything alive.
That’s why Loy Krathong is also about gratitude.
We say thank you to the rivers, ponds, and streams that care for us all year long.
Many parents use this time to teach their children about environmental care — reminding them to keep the water clean and use eco-friendly krathongs made from banana leaves or bread instead of plastic.
🌼 Loy Krathong in Modern Thailand
Today, every part of Thailand celebrates in its own special way.
- In Bangkok, there are beautiful lights along the rivers.
- In Chiang Mai, people release glowing lanterns into the sky during the Yi Peng Festival, which happens around the same time.
- At schools and nurseries, children dress in Thai traditional clothes and float their krathongs in small pools or water tubs, singing cheerful songs.
It’s a festival that continues to grow, reminding families that kindness, beauty, and gratitude never go out of style.
🧒 Learning Through Celebration
For little ones, Loy Krathong is not just a fun day — it’s a lesson in culture, creativity, and compassion.
At JAM Kids House, we believe these moments help children feel proud of their culture, understand their environment, and express joy through play and creation.
🌕 Celebrating Loy Krathong Together
💖 A Moment to Share with Family
Loy Krathong is one of those rare times when the whole country pauses to admire beauty and say thank you.
For parents, it’s a chance to slow down and create lasting memories with their children — folding leaves, lighting candles, and watching little krathongs float gently away into the night.
These moments help children understand love, forgiveness, and kindness in the most natural way — through shared experience.
🌈 What Children Learn from the Festival
For our youngest learners, Loy Krathong teaches lessons that go far beyond the classroom:
- 🌿 Respect for nature — appreciating the water and the world around us.
- 🤝 Community spirit — joining others in celebration and joy.
- 💫 Hope and renewal — letting go of worries and wishing for good things to come.
At JAM Kids House, we celebrate Loy Krathong every year with hands-on activities that encourage children to learn by doing — crafting krathongs from natural materials, singing songs, and discovering the meaning behind each tradition.
🪷 A Festival That Lights Up Hearts
As hundreds of candles float across the water, children’s eyes light up with wonder.
For them, this magical moment is more than just a festival — it’s a memory that stays forever.
And for parents, it’s a reminder of how beautiful learning can be when it’s filled with love, culture, and family connection.
🏡 Join the Celebration at JAM Kids House
If you’d like your little one to experience Thai traditions in a warm, bilingual environment, come visit us at JAM Kids House in Bangkok.
Our caring teachers bring every celebration — from Loy Krathong to Songkran — to life through play, creativity, and culture.
✨ Because every child deserves to learn with joy, kindness, and light. ✨