You only have to look at this footage of a sky lantern festival in chiang mai in thailand to see how popular they are and how potentially. People celebrate yi peng or yee peng by adorned temples, houses with paper lanterns, meanwhile monks, locals and tourists launch paper lantern into the sky. The khom loi are made from a thin material, such as rice paper, to which a candle or fire starter is attached. Although both of these festivals are incredibly beautiful and picturesque, its important to take care in how you join the activities.
In the pingxi district of new taipei city, there is a popular annual lantern festival where hundreds of sky lanterns are released. Smiles spread across every persons face as they craned their necks to look upwards at the glowing dots floating ever higher. In china, taiwan and thailand, sky lanterns are traditionally made from oiled rice paper on a. I gotta admit, ive seen sky lanterns around for several years. Read on for gorgeous photos of the festival in chiang mai. The most common thai name for these is khom loi, or khom fai, while us farang just call them sky lanterns, or paper lanterns. Yi peng and loy krathong lantern festival, chiang mai. Sky lanterns have been made illegal in several countries. Floating lanterns light the sky during loy krathong celebrations in chiang mai, thailand.
A multitude of lannastyle sky lanterns khom loi thai. The yi peng festival involves releasing lanterns into the sky and the loi krathong festival involves launching floating lanterns into the river. Its celebration takes place annually on the full moon day in the 2nd month of the lanna calendar, which is accordingly the 12th month of thai lunar calendar. The name sky lante rn is a translation of the chinese name but they have also been referred to as sky candles or fire balloons. Watch as lanterns fill the sky in thailand national. The sky lanterns are known as khom loi and usually made from thin pieces of rice paper. Thai sky lanterns, thai paper lanterns, chinese lanterns, the list goes on.
A guide to thailands floating lantern festivals 2020. Once the sky is fulfilled the floating lanterns, the view of it is really awesome. Loy krathong, thailands most beautiful holiday festival. Loy krathong, the thai festival of lights, is celebrated throughout thailand on the full. Sky lanterns are sold at various locations in and around the city of chiang mai throughout the yi peng and loy krathong period and the night sky is filled with the sight of fire lanterns. Launching sky lanterns off jomtien beach in thailand to celebrate 2008 new year. Festival of lights, or festival of lanterns in chiang mai, thailand. Premium eco wirefree sky lanterns are manufactured with the best craftsmanship and are made of high quality fire resistant paper. Yee peng festival yi peng chiang mai lantern festival. Chiang mai yi peng lantern festival ticket for maejo and cowboy army riding club. With the night sky covered with brightlylit lanterns and krathongs floating on the water, every corner of thailand brims with joy and vibrance of the festival. Here is a brief history of sky lanterns to give you the full picture. In the past, lanterns were usually made of a piece of sliced bananatree trunk, which floats on the water.
The crackdown on the annual loy krathong event is intended to. A sky lantern also known as kongming lantern, or chinese lantern, is a small hot air balloon. Where two best friends needs to find out how to save the world with the help of angels and an immortal boy. Yi peng and loy krathong lantern festival chiang mai. In thailand flying lanterns are used during the year and for festivals with the most popular being loy kratong festival. The name of the hotel was chosen by us because sky lantern khom loy is also a symbol of thailand allows to realize wishes. Thailand lantern festival ultimate travel guide luxe voyage asia. Thailand lantern festival loy krathong and yi peng 2020. When matt found a sky lantern in his driveway with a simple, sad message written on it, he didnt think much of it at first. Scroll down to know everything about this thai light festival and become a part of the most picturesque festival of thailand. A guide to thailands floating lantern festivals 2020 mundo asia. The highlight is that numerous sky lanterns, adorned with lights, are released. Thailands floating lantern festival is a mustsee for any traveler in southeast asia. Sky lanterns released at various celebrations were subsequently put forward as explanations of those sightings.
Another suggested origin is that the name actually comes from the lanterns. This is the chiang mai floating lanterns festival in thailand. Releasing a sky lantern during thailands famous festival of lights is a bucket. According to some, the birthday of tianguan, the taoist god of good. The lantern festival in taiwan is now a major tourist attraction thanks to the taiwanese tourism bureau. Tickets for chiang mai cad khomloy sky lantern festival 2020 are released on sale. But, honestly i never gave them much thought, and i wasnt much tempted to buy any. Book hotels early if you wish to experience the event. Significance, worship and ask for forgiveness to goddess of water ganga. Thai authorities threaten sky lantern fans with death. In addition, many thai believe that when they set lantern flying, they are releasing they worries and problems away. Thailand lantern festival actually consists of two traditional ceremonies. It is a lanna festival with the biggest celebration held in chiang mai, which is the ancient capital of the former lanna kingdom. See more ideas about floating lanterns, lanterns and sky lanterns.
These sky lanterns are called khom loi in thai, which means floating lanterns. The festival takes place on the eve of the full moon during the 12 th month in the traditional thai lunar calendar. Chiang mai yi peng lantern festival mass release tickets. Each participant releases their sky lantern into the air at approximately the. The thai s use the word khom loi, meaning floating lanterns. Sky lanterns date back to early times of war when they were used as signaling devices for chinese. Visit our store contact us add us to your favorites 50 x thai sky fire lantern ufo hot air balloon you are bidding on a set of 50 handmade authentic thai hot air ballons khom loy. Made of high quality fire resistant paper high quality upgraded fuel cell included and preassembled fuel cells are included no metal wire. History of sky lanterns sky lantern is essentially a small hot air balloon made out of paper that has a wire construction at the bottom where the fire is. The name sky lantern is a translation of the chinese name but they have also been referred to as sky candles or fire balloons. Once airborne the sky lantern will rise until the fuel cell or candle stays alight, when the candle burns out the sky lantern floats back to ground. Premium sky lanterns include a preattached upgraded fuel cell. Although this legend is not a factual account of the festivals background, it is a story loved by thai people, so much so in. The khom loi are made of rice paper stretched over a bamboo frame with a candle attached at the base.
Sky lantern by matt mikalatos is a nonfiction story about a fathers love for his daughter, and one fathers attempt to pass on that message to someone hurting. In thailand, on a very important festival yi peng, people release many sky lanterns because they believe it will bring them good luck. In thailand releasing these lanterns in to the night sky is symbolic of letting go of ones negative energy to make room for the positive. All you need to know about the chiang mai lantern festival one of the most. Responsible travel during loi krathong and yi peng festivals. See more ideas about sky lanterns, lanterns and floating lanterns.
Sky lanterns have long been a tradition in east asia. The history books of thailand tell us that this time of year the time of the. The goal of the project will be to pooling information and knowledge about the history and characteristics of sky lanterns, including locating and summarizing discussions in. This is a thai architect who is at the origin of this hotel sinoportuguese inspired decor, we only beautify and add our personal touch. The hot air from the candle is trapped inside the lantern and making it rise from the ground. The sky was full of flickering, moving lights, and the atmosphere was vibrant. History of sky lanterns invention of chinese lantern. Get to know the stunning festival of lights in thailand. The reflection of the sky lanterns on the lake creates a magical atmosphere. Thailand lights up the sky with lantern festival cnn travel.
Its a good idea to call in advance and book your table. She first appeared in a book written in the 18th century but her influence and. Although sky lanterns may seem like a relatively new invention, they have actually been part of wedding tradition for a very long time. Buddha and the legend of yi peng has been traced back to the story that a candlecarrying. The historical origins of loy krathong are not entirely clear, but this is one of. Loy means to float and kratong means lantern or little vessel made in resemblance of a lotus flower. In 2016, the yee peng lantern festival will be held on november 14th. Loi krathong and yi peng, in which each has a unique method of celebration. Thailand s fiery sky lanterns are beautifulbut incredibly dangerous for airplanes. Flying lanterns paper lanterns sky lanterns in thailand. Each year, thousands of paper lanterns are released into the night sky to symbolically ward off bad luck, while rivers are covered by floating flower lanterns, adorned with candles and joss sticks. Stories of the origin of the lantern festival vary, yet are deeply rooted in the history of the celebration. In addition to the water festivities, loy krathong in chiang mai features floating lanterns or sky lanterns, large paper lanterns that float up into the sky just as a.
Each year they organize a variety of events with many local companies sponsoring hightech lanterns that are a far cry from the childrens lanterns of bygone days. It is celebrated en masse in the town of mae jo each year. The story goes that after receiving the beautiful gift, the king lit its candle and. Loy kratong is the festival where people float candlelit lanterns in the water mainly in rivers, canals, ponds and the sea on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month. Thousands of vibrantly decorated floating baskets light up the countrys water. These include traditional thai dance shows, the official yee peng parade. The yi peng lantern festival in chiang mai is one such festival that is. Yee peng festival in chiang mai sometimes written as yi peng is celebrated on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month ever year, which normally means midway through november, but this can vary. Mh manufacturing was commissioned to design a better lantern. Superb for weddings, parties, barbecues and other festivities. Fire generates hot air, which is lighter than the cold air, and it lifts the lantern. Those incredible photos of hundreds, if not thousands of brightly lit lanterns rising into the nights sky over chiang mai is an iconic. Several fires have been attributed to sky lanterns, with at least one 21stcentury death caused.
The yi peng festival originated in the ancient lanna kingdom, which once ruled northern thailand. Yee peng festival yi peng chiang mai lantern festival before. Sky lanterns were originally used hundreds of years ago as signaling devices by the military. Loi krathong, loi kratong or loy krathong is a festival held annually throughout thailand on the full moon of the 12th month in thai lunar calendar.
Try to book a cooking class for that day and ask if youre able to. A sky lantern, also known as chinese or thai sky lantern, is a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is lit. Loi krathong is a siamese festival celebrated annually throughout the kingdom of thailand. They are extremely popular in certain festivals in. Introduction the sky lantern festival of thailand is held not just in this country but also in china, taiwan, and other neighboring countries. Thailand s floating lantern festival is a mustsee for any traveler in southeast asia. If you give sky lantern to a monk, you will receive enlightenment because its believed that lanterns will show the way to the knowledge. However, large falling blobs of burning wax dripped from the thai lanterns and liquid spirits or toxic fuels from the chinese lanterns occasionally created dangerous situations. Khom loi can be bought at many temples throughout chiang mai. Yi peng or yee peng, chiangmai sky lantern festival is another light festival celebrated in northern thailand alongside loy krathong. Releasing these lanterns is a symbol of letting go of misfortunes and receiving merit, an important concept in buddhism. Aware yourself with these facts about chinese sky lanterns regarding their history, advantages and drawbacks that are used as a means of celebration. Thai festivalgoers could face the death penalty if they release sky lanterns too close to airports, the ruling junta has warned. More recently they are used for celebrations and other special occasions, one festival in particular is the loy krathong festival in thailand.