Miss Noppamas & Folk Fair

The first weekend in November, a dozen of the Milwaukee Thai-Americans went down the to big temple in Chicago (Wat Dhammaram) to support Poi M. in the traditional Nang Noppamas beauty pageant.  Poi looked beautiful and graceful and placed in the runners-up.  An impressive finish for anyone from our organization; we don't have quite the heavy support of some of the big Chicago groups.

Isn't she gorgeous:

Nang Noppamas, or Lady Noppamas, is the legendary creator of Loy Kratong.  Loy Kratong is a festival in late autumn to send wishes, prayers, and thanks to the water goddess.  "Loy" means to float and "kratong" is a small raft of flowers, incense, a candle, and a coin or two.  One makes a kratong, carries it to the nearest body of water and floats it away at evening time with prayers and hopes for the coming year.

My own personal, grumpy opinion is that Loy Kratong is a far more enjoyable holiday than the more famous Songkran (Thai New Year--Lots of water, thrown, sprayed, generally tossed about).


Next weekend:  

International Holiday Folk Fair
22-24 November 2013  
Wisconsin Exhibition Center (State Fair Park)
www.folkfair.org

Thai-Am has a cultural booth, a handicraft booth, a FOOD booth, adult dance performers, and youth dance performers.  We may have a recipe demonstration or two--I'll confirm.

Come help out.  Come to enjoy.  Email:  thaiammilwaukee@gmail.com to volunteer or to pick up advance tickets for $10 each ($12 at the door).