Thai’s love Christmas

Posted by admin on December 22nd, 2007 filed in Bangkok, Expat life, Living here, Understanding Thais, shopping

 

Despite being a Buddhist country, Thais takes to Christmas like kids in a toy shop. Of course much of it is driven by commercialism and the ever increasing tourist dollar, but all around us here in Chiang Mai there are Christmas trees and flashing lights and santas and Christmas carols, no doubt about it the Thais get into the Christmas spirit.

 

This is all because Thai people love fun, they love a celebration and whether it’s their own or an imported one they get stuck in. Of course, they wouldn’t go to church on Christmas day (unless they are Christians) and probably don’t exchange gifts under a Christmas tree at home (though they have erected Christmas trees in every shop or restaurant and many public places), but it wouldn’t surprise me if they do take to this in the future. 

 

Certainly there is a strong shopping mood in the air, with plenty of merchandising and sales and special offers and the weeks leading up to Christmas see a spending frenzy that isn’t limited to the foriegners. Many will have received Christmas (or rather ‘end of year’ bonuses) and if their company has some sort of foreign involvement, ownership or clientele, they might be closed for Christmas. 

 

Of course Christmas is one big circus that, these days, has little to do with the birth of Christ and more significance as a once-a-year celebration of goodwill and family get-togethers where gifts are exchanged, mouths are all stuffed with turkey, and the irksome cheery Christmas carol CDs are hauled out and played ad nuseum with the familiar medley of favourites sung out with gusto by some middle-school girls choir from the heartland of Ohio!

 

In Thailand all these special activities associated with Christmas are just part of the appeal and novelty, in much the same way as we might all be intriqued by a dragon procession on Chinese New Year, or the famous Thai Song kran festival, and the thai never tire of something fun and light hearted. For some, Christmas is something they have been celebrating from birth, though they could scarcely tell whose birthday it is actually celebrating and the story of the nativity is quite vague to them all.

 

So, when you are in Thailand on vacation over Christmas you’ll feel right at home. There will genuine Christmas dinners thrown by all the restaurants, some Thais might even exchange gifts with you and if you are working with a Thai company you might even be called upon to prepare a skit for their annual ‘Christmas’ dinner. The malls will all be soaked in the Christmas spirit (gosh even Christmas day in Chiang Mai was overcast and reminded me of home). An of course, for weeks before you’ll have to tolerate those Christmas carols, so if you’ve come to this Buddhist country to escape it all, it’s best you head for the hills and go trekking or something.