Happy Loy Krathong!

"Loi" means "to float" and a "krathong" is traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate in a few a days and be eaten by fish and other animals. The traditional banana stalk krathongs are also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are frowned on, since they are polluting and may take years to disappear. Regardless of the composition, a krathong will be decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles and incense sticks. A low value coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits.

During the night of the full moon, Thais will float their krathong on a river, canal or a pond lake. The festival is believed to originate in an ancient practice of paying respect to the spirit of the waters. Today it is simply a time to have fun."

The above information I searched from http://www.wikipedia.com/. It's very easy and save the time. In the past I had to go to the library and took a long time to search for the information. Sometimes I was very serious because I couldn't find it. Although I could find it but I had to write it down or photocopy. At present I've just click ed http://www.wikipedia.com/ , there are a lot of information around the world.

Last week (on the 21st November) it was Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. Thai people were very happy to go to Loy Krathong. It means they would recognize the advantages of the water and deliverd bad luck into the river. My school organized Loy Krathong Festival in the school for the students to recognize and inherit Thai festival. We mocked a pond and let the students float Krathong on it. The students were very excited and happy. I saw the smile on thier faces when they saw their teachers, their classmates and their parents dressing in Thai style and participated in Loy Krathong Parade. More over our foreign teachers from the English Program and English Native Speaker Program dressed in Thai style and paticipated to this parade as well.

Personnally, I think although at the present time it is the world of technology but we should preserve the nation's festivals and traditions at the same time. If we can integrate both of them and teach our students to recognize the importance of own fectivals and traitions. This  example that I want to share with you about how to inegrate both of them. I searched information about Loy Krathong form http://www.wikipedia.com/ and I had a lot of information to tell my students about the history of Loy Krathing. In addition, I assigned my students to make a bulletin board at the back of their classrooms about Loy Krathong festival.

My students were happy to create their own work and be proud of them. They used http://www.wikipedia.com/  as a choice to search for knowledge. The reachers can ask the students discuss and share opinion about the inforamtion that they searched which will lead to analytical thinking.

Have you ever had experience about Loy Krathong festival? If yes, share your experience with us. If no, go to http://www.wikipedia.com/ and you will know what it is or come to Thailand during Loy Krathong Festival. You will be fun and amazing !!