Lanna Crafts XXI

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

The next significant tradition of Lanna is the New Year festival, or Songkran festival in Thai word, or Pee Mai Muang festival in Lanna word. The New Year Festival of Lanna People is set in April (as same as other Thai regions) or the seventh month of Lanna calendar.

Picture of Pee Mai Muang festival

Pee Mai Muang is a movement or change to a new era which is the first moving of the sun into Aries. So they set April to be the first month of the year. The theme of Pee Mai Muang is based on the belief of the new era which is an opportunity for family members to gather to make a merit, and/or sprinkle water onto a Buddha image, and/or pour water on the hands of revered elders and ask for blessing, and/or splash water to each other (children and young peoples). These activities are to express goodwill on peace and happiness.

Pee Mai Muang festival of Lanna is different from Songkran festival in other regions of Thailand on the duration of the festival (more days than other regions), the activities, the beliefs and the purpose.

According to typical Songkran festival, there will be 3 days of activities as follows:

• April 13 will be ‘Sangkharn-Long day’: After midnight of April 12, it will be sounds of wood knockings, firecrackers, gun shootings for sending or expelling the Sangkharn (there are so many meanings of this word for this festival, but the one is the sun or age, to cross over to the new age). Today members of family will clean all areas their home.

• April 14 will be ‘Naw day’: Today the sun will move to the point between the end of Pisces and the start of Aries. Everyone will prepare supplies and foods to make a merit on tomorrow, they will speak good words to each other, no damning or scolding.

• April 15 will be ‘Phayawan day’: Today the sun will cross into Aries which the Lanna year number will be changed. Lanna people will wake up early in the morning to go to the temple to make the merit. Today they will have an opportunity to sprinkle water onto a Buddha image which every temple will prepare by setting the Buddha image for easy access at the middle of temple. And they might pour water on the hands of revered elders and ask for blessing today.

Note:

1. Nowadays Thai people favor to splash water to each other (children and young peoples) in these three days.
2. Pee Mai Muang festival especially adds more 4 days than Songkran festival, there are ‘Pak-pee’, ‘Pak-duan’, ‘Pak-wan’, ‘Pak-yarm’ days. The main purpose of these days is for Lanna people to travel to worship Buddha images at long distance temple, or go to meet the elder cousins who live far away to pour water on their hands and ask for blessing then.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

- ‘Hair Tie Hair Accessories Made From Fabric’ From Lannathaiexport:

Hair Tie Hair Accessories Made from Fabric

• This handmade item is from fabric / pompom
• Model: HA011
• Dimensions: .44 pounds

(To be continued)

Lanna Crafts XX

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

Picture of Yee Peng festival

This month, November, there will be a significant tradition in Thailand called ‘Loy Krathong’ festival which is annually celebrated on the full-moon day of the twelfth lunar month of Buddhist calendar. Loy Krathong is the floating of an illuminated leaf vessel to make an apology and thank to water, canal, river, ocean (actually to the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha), because we need to use water in daily life and might make dirt or impurity to water. The word “Loy” means “float”, and “Krathong” means lotus-shaped vessel which is made of any available things, such as banana leaves, light synthetic foam with colored paper, bread, etc. A krathong usually contains a candle, three joss sticks, some flowers and coins. Lanna people call this festival as ‘Yee Peng’ festival.

- Tradition about Yee Peng festival, this festival has been hold and practiced for long time since the 14^th century B.E. Yee Peng festival was a very significant festival to the Lanna King and Lanna people as they would go to a temple to make a merit, listen to the monk’s sermon on story of the last great incarnation of the Buddha, and float the sacrificial offerings along the river to worship the Goddess of Water, or their ancients, or Buddha’s footprint. Moreover there would be Sky Lantern or Floating Lantern called Khom Loy (Thai word) for offerings to Buddha. Nowadays Lanna people still follow the ancient on celebrating this festival, and including more entertainments or shows or beauty contests in this festival.

The highlight of Yee Peng festival focuses on the launching of the Khom Loy or Floating Lanterns into the night sky with the belief that misfortune will fly away with them. Lanna people believe that, if the lanterns are made and offered to Buddha or monks, they will receive wisdom in return as the flame in the lantern stands for knowledge and the light it gives will guide them to the right path of their lives.

The activities of Lanna people in this festival will be as follows:

- In the morning, they will prepare foods very early in the morning to make a merit with monks at a temple and listen to the monk’s sermon on story of the last great incarnation of the Buddha.

- In the evening, Lanna people will prepare lit candle cups called Pang Pa Tib at their homes and at temples for worship the Buddha and pray for themselves and their families to get prosperity and happiness. The number of the cups usually will be equal to the age of the lit one or number of people in his family. Later, they will light Sky Lanterns or Khom Loy, and for the water ceremony they will use the Krathong with sacrificial offerings as above mentioned.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

Grehom Scented Candles (Set of 4) -
Thai Spa; Beautiful Gift; Frangipani in
Bamboo Casing; Handmade Votive Candles;
Exclusive Wedding Gift; Each candle
is delivered in an elegant Gift Box

1) ‘Grehom Scented Candles (Set of 4) - Thai Spa; Beautiful Gift; Frangipani in Bamboo Casing; Handmade Votive Candles; Exclusive Wedding Gift; Each candle is delivered in an elegant Gift Box’ by Grehom:

• Set of 4 Candles; Red, Green, Blue & Yellow colour Frangipani candles
• Special candle, in a bamboo casing
• 1.8" tall and 2.8" wide
• Re-useable as a candle holder
• Ideal romantic gift for her

2) ‘Ceramic lacquer Buddhist monk coin bank from Thailand’ From Thai handmade product:

Ceramic lacquer Buddhist
monk coin bank from Thailand

A cute crafted coin bank from Thailand made from Ceramic, Buddhist monk alike.

(To be continued)