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Candle Festival facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Candle Festival (called Haetian in Thai) is a big celebration held every year in Ubon Ratchathani, a city in the Isan region of Thailand. It happens at the start of the rainy season.

Long ago, it was a tradition for religious people to give useful things, like candles, to monks. This kind act became a very important part of the festival in Ubon Ratchathani. Today, it's a huge event that both local people and visitors love to see.

What Happens at the Festival?

During the festival, giant candles are paraded through the town. Each of these huge candles represents a local temple, a part of the city, or another important group. These aren't just plain candles!

Amazing Wax Sculptures

Many of the giant candles are very fancy. They have amazing scenes sculpted into them. These sculptures are made from wood or plaster and then covered with wax. They often show stories and characters from Hinduism and Buddhism, which are important religions in Thailand. It's like a moving art show!

The Candle Festival is a wonderful way to see Thai culture, art, and traditions come alive.

Images for kids

  • Ambrogio Lorenzetti - Presentazione di Gesù al tempio - Google Art Project

    Presentation at the Temple by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, 1342 (Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence)

  • Sretenie

    Meeting of the Lord, Russian Orthodox icon, 15th century

  • Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, stained glass window

    Presentation of Jesus, showing (L to R) Mary, Simeon (holding Jesus), and Joseph with doves as a Temple sacrifice, stained glass window c. 1896, Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)

  • The Candlemas day 1731

    Meeting of the Lord, Orthodox icon from Belarus (1731)

  • Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Benozzo Gozzoli, 1460-1461 (Philadelphia Museum of Art)

    Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Benozzo Gozzoli, 1460-1461 (Philadelphia Museum of Art)

  • 0946 Das Fest Mariä Lichtmeß am 2. Februar in Sanok

    Candles on Candlemas Day, Sanok 2013

  • 2017Candlemas

    Blessing of the Candles at Candlemas at Calvary Episcopal Church (Rochester, Minnesota)

  • Andriolli Gromniczna

    Candlemas Day in the Carpathian region

  • Presentation at the Temple (Georgia, 12th c.)

    Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, 12th century cloisonné enamel icon from Georgia

  • Presentation of Christ in the Temple

    Presentation of Christ in the Temple, from the Sherbrooke Missal

  • Brooklyn Museum - The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (La présentation de Jésus au Temple) - James Tissot - overall

    James Tissot, The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (La présentation de Jésus au Temple), Brooklyn Museum

  • Presentation at the Temple St.Michael Toronto

    Stained glass window at St. Michael's Cathedral (Toronto) depicts Infant Jesus at the Temple

  • Menologion of Basil 037

    Painting from the Menologion of Basil II (c. 1000 AD)

  • Presentation South German Late 15th Century

    Presentation of Christ in the Temple, South German, likely altarpiece wing, late 15th century. (Private collection)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Presentación de Jesús en el Templo para niños

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