How Does Thailand Celebrate Christmas

October 19th, 2007

Thailand celebrates pretty much every holiday. Christmas is a big holiday celebration in Thailand, most likely second only to New Year celebration. So, how does Thailand celebrate Christmas?

How do people in Thailand celebrate Christmas?

People in Thailand look for every excuse to celebrate. Since Thailand is a diverse country with lots of nationalities, there are many holidays of different religious beliefs that are celebrated in Thailand, especially in Bangkok where the bulk of international establishments and people are.

Christmas decorations in Thailand

In any malls, office buildings or any community places, you will see big Christmas trees with tons of Christmas decorations in Thailand. Since there are big international communities in Thailand, all retail stores and buildings decorate their places to suit all beliefs. There are plenty of great looking, highly decorated Christmas trees in Bangkok.

However, Thai People don’t have Christmas trees or Christmas decorations up in their homes. First of all, Christmas trees are sold in Bangkok like they are in the United States, you cannot just cut tons of evergreen trees and sell them on the streets of Bangkok. Secondly Christmas lights are not as easy to put up in Bangkok. Besides, while Thai People would celebrate anything they can get their hands on, most of them are still Buddhists and would rather celebrate the way Buddhism teaches them. That’s why even on Christmas Day, Thai People still go to the Temples to respect the monks and the Buddha, rather than a Christian church.

Christmas holiday in Thailand

Thai People love to celebrate any holidays as long as they can take a day or two off of work. If a Thai person has Christmas Day off, he or she would just celebrate Christmas as if it were a regular holiday. Many people would just stay home and relax. Others would meet up with friends at malls or to see a movie or two as well as have nice dinner which is not necessarily Christmas dinner. At schools in Thailand, students may put on performances and plays for parents for Christmas.

Exchanging gifts for Christmas in Thailand

Since the biggest holiday in Thailand is the New Year Day (and New Year Eve), most people don’t exchange or give any gifts for Christmas. Christmas is just a holiday to take off work and see beautiful decorations in Thailand. But, the real holiday is the New year most people save up and prepare to give real and big gifts for New Year. Some people give money, others give gifts.

Thailand Culture