Legend in Sukhothai Kingdom Period Loy Krathong is once said to have begun in the
Sukhothai Kingdom by a court lady named Nopphamat. However, it is now known that the Nopphamat tale comes from a poem written in the early-Bangkok period. The Cambodian practice of moon-worship and floating lanterns demonstrates a long-practiced tradition before Thai adoption and is depicted on a Bayon bas-relief. According to
King Rama IV, writing in 1863, it was a
Hindu festival that was adapted by
Thai Buddhists in Thailand to honour the
Buddha, Prince
Siddhartha Gautama. The candle venerates the Buddha with light, while the krathong's floating away symbolises letting go of all one's hatred, anger, and defilements. People sometimes cut their fingernails or hair and place the clippings on the krathong as a symbol of letting go of past transgressions and negative thoughts. Many Thais use the krathong to thank the Goddess of Water, the
Hindu Goddess Ganga, Phra Mae Khongkha (). On Loy Krathong's origins, Thai historian Pasuk Phongpaichit and author Chris Baker write in
A History of Ayutthaya: Siam in the Early Modern World that: "The story of Nang Nopphamat, the supposed lady of the Sukhothai court who invented the krathong, is a literary fiction of the Bangkok period... designed to provide a 'pure Thai' pedigree for a festival that was actually a complex mix of Khmer Brahminism and local water rites inherited from the Ayutthaya period." (p. 82)
Ayutthaya Kingdom and Lavo Kingdom Period Simon de la Loubère led an embassy to
Siam (modern
Thailand) in 1687 (the "La Loubère-
Céberet mission"). Upon his return, La Loubère wrote a description of his travels, as had been requested by
Louis XIV, published under the title
Du Royaume de Siam. Loy Krathong festival was mentioned in his book in the sixth chapter of part two called Concerning the Shows, and other Diverſion of the Siameſes: Religious Shows: An Illumination on the Waters, and another on the Land, and in the Palace.
Rattanakosin Kingdom Period The beauty contests that accompany the festival are known as "Nopphamat Queen Contests" has been promoted since the reign of
King Rama III. Since the country became peaceful after getting involved with many wars, King Rama III ordered the palace officers and people to revive and promote the important festivals of the kingdom, such as Loy Krathong. According to legend written on the poem, Nang Nopphamat (; alternatively spelled as "Noppamas" or "Nopamas") was a consort of the 13th century
Sukhothai King Sri Indraditya (who is also known as
Phra Ruang) and she reputedly was the first to float a decorated raft. However, this tale may have been invented in the early-19th century. There is no evidence that a Nang Nopphamat ever existed. Instead, it is a fact that a woman of this name was the leading character of a novel released at the end of the reign of
King Rama III, around 1850 CE. Her character was written as guidance for all women who wished to become civil servants.
Kelantan in
Malaysia celebrates Loy Krathong similarly, especially in the
Tumpat area. The ministry in charge of tourism in
Malaysia recognizes it as an attraction for tourists.
Lanna Kingdom Period and later Northern Part of Thailand Loy Krathong coincides with the
Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as
Yi Peng ().
Yi means 'two' and
peng means a 'full moon day'.
Yi Peng refers to the full moon day in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month of the
Thai lunar calendar). The festival is meant as a time to make
merit. Swarms of
sky lanterns (; ), literally: 'floating lanterns', are launched into the air. Khom loi are made from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the khom loi to float into the sky. During the festival, some people also decorate their houses, gardens, and temples with
khom fai (), intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms.
Khom thue () are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick,
khom khwaen () are the hanging lanterns, and
khom pariwat (), which are placed at temples and which revolve due to the heat of the candle inside. The most elaborate
Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in
Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom, where now both Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are celebrated at the same time resulting in lights floating on the waters, lights hanging from trees/buildings or standing on walls, and lights floating in the sky. The tradition of
Yi Peng was also adopted by certain parts of
Laos during the 16th century. == Lesser known tradition ==