No, I am not going mad. It is the end of another year - the Church Year. The Church always loves to be different. Yesterday was the Last Sunday of the Church's Year and was also the annual Festival of Loy Krathong in Thailand.
Loy Krathong falls on the first full moon at the end of rainy season. It is a water based festival where all the people go to some waterway to float their krathong - a floating body to be used for placing symbols of oneself. You can see mine in the above picture. It was environmentally friendly as it was made of bread and so the fish could eat it and enjoy. It was also made into the shape of a turtle - very cute.
The idea of Loy Krathong is very simple. It involves a ritual where each individual floats their krathong with symbols of themselves - a piece of a fingernail, a strand of hair, incense, candle. As you float your krathong and it goes away down the waterway, you are symbolically letting go of all the bad in your life and wishing for a whole new start. I really enjoy this festival and it so lovely. It really does have a special meaning for life.
Could this be the Year of the Turtle?
I am John Murray, an Australian, Catholic priest of the Order of St Augustine. I live and work in Thailand and have been here since October 2005. I have many stories from my life journey and would simply like to share some of them. So hope you enjoy and go away sometime with a smile or a helpful little insight.
We gather
to give thanks for my 25 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment