Thirteen Things about Christmas in Thailand….
1. Going from house to house carolling… in Thai… all night long. I
don’t know when this tradition started or why, but it probably started in
the days when you walked from house to house around a small village, as a
way to encourage each other and have fun together. Now, in a city it takes
on a new dynamic, as we have to drive (sometimes up to an hour) to get from
one house to another. Somewhere around 5 am those who have endured will eat
breakfast together and then go about their day as if they had a good night
sleep. I have never managed to make it to breakfast!
2. They actually play Christmas carols, with the words, in the shopping
centres! No descrimination between songs about Santa or songs about Jesus.
Imagine that! The other day Mum and I were in the shopping centre, and they
were playing an Australian Christmas Song called, Six White Boomers. That
was my favourite when I was kid.
3. Thai Schools (all Buddhist) ask us to do Christmas programs, as a
cultural exchange.
4. Call me a Christmas tree snob, but Christmas Trees in Thailand are not
the prettiest sight. Many times they look like decorations have been
casually tossed onto them with the tinsel draped vertically. It really is a
style. One time my husband decorated a tree meticulously, and when he
returned it has been redone, Thai Style. Accept it and move on.
5. Opening gifts together on Christmas morning is fun, but also a little
lonely, being just the 2 of us.
6. But then lunch time rolls around and it’s time to go to lunch with
friends at the local Hotel, for a somewhat traditional American/European
Christmas meal.
7. I do miss Aussie Christmases – a bbq on the beach or cold ham and chicken
with salads and traditional christmas pudding and custard. Yum!! I’ve never
dreamed of a white christmas, unless that white refers to sand.
8. There are a gazzillion Christmas Parties in various villages. Sean spent
3 nights in a village last week and then our church also had services in 7
other villages – which normally we would attend, but this year we decided to
take it slow. The furthest village is a 3 hour drive then 2 hour hike (Sean
went to that one). The closest is a 1.5 hour drive.
9. Then there’s the parties close to home. I think we have one or 2 everday
for the next few days.
10. People actually say ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Christmas’ without
getting scowled at or sued. Imagine that!
11. Our Church is decorated Thai Lanna Style, not western style.
12. This year we only had time to put up our tree and a wreath on our front
door. So the Christmas atmosphere around our house is somewhat subdued.
13. Thai’s are well known for taking a song and changing the words. I love
to see the looks on my Western friends faces when they walk into church and
hear the tune to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” or “Jingle Bells”. Some are
surprised, others horrified; until I explain that the words have been
changed, and no we are not singing about Santa.

Bonus: The words to the chorus of Six White Boomers.
Six White Boomers, Snow White Boomers
Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun.
Six White Boomers, Snow White Boomers
On the Australian Run.
It’s all about a little Joey (baby Kangaroo) whose lost his mother, and
Santa helps him find her while he delivers presents. Boomers are
Kangaroos – Santa doesn’t use Reindeer in Australia, cause it’s stinking
hot, and there’s no snow for the sleigh.