Thai Festivals
There are literally hundreds of Thai Festivals every year and many are celebrated nationally.  The most famous Festival is Songkran (Thai new year) celebrated April 12th-14th. If you visit Thailand during this period, get ready for a soaking. When you see pick up trucks with large buckets of water and overloaded with excited Thais it's time to take cover The weather is at its hottest in April and the festival has become very boisterous in recent years, especially in tourist hot spots where you cannot avoid the fun.  If you want to remain dry the only option is to stay indoors. The Kings Birthday is celebrated on December 5th. The parties are overt as you would expect for a country that reveres it's monarchy.  the celebrations are a big deal in Thailand and events are organised all over the country. Many of the bars, even in tourist resorts, are closed on December 5th but the hotels are good retreat for a quiet drink. The decorations are very impressive and there are pictures of the King wherever you travel to. See some pictures of Thai people celebrating the King's birthday in Phuket.
Loy Krathong is an amazing festival to witness and is held to honour the goddess of waterways; Mae Kongkha. Offerings are made in the form of small candle-lit vessels that are released on any available form of waterway such as rivers and lakes. It is believed that as they float away they will take with them the sins for the last year and bring good luck for the future. The festival usually takes place in November and also features fireworks, beauty competitions and a multitude of parades. If Loy Krathong coincides with the 'Lanna' festival then you will also see thousands of lanterns released to the sky on the same weekend.
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