Each year, a certain full moon keeps most of Thailand awake. The Loy Krathong festival takes place on the Thai lunar calendar’s 12th month, and people are invited to float krathong on bodies of water, a gesture signifying the release of bad luck. These circular candle-lit vessels are typically made with banana leaves and decorated with flowers; sometimes, they even include pieces of a person’s hair and nails. The tableau is plucked right out of a glimmering Disney film.
