Loi Krathong is celebrated on the first full moon of the 12th lunar month--this year that meant November 19-22. The festival is meant to be one day but the Thais love their celebrations so it was extended to 4 days! Basically the festival is to thank the river goddess for providing water to the crops and forests. It is also a time to ask the river goddess for forgiveness for the "polluting ways of humans". I find this quite ironic as the way they thank the goddess is by making "krathongs" or floats to float down the river--the krathongs are made from banana leaves, flowers, incense and candles.
The Thais also light lanterns in which one makes a wish for the future and it is let go into the sky to go who knows where.
The festival ends with a parade, but the lanterns continue to be lit and let go into the sky for weeks and weeks after
And of course, as with every Thai holiday, celebration, and day, there is a lot of food involved
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