Teachers forcing Christmas on Thai children

[F4UCorsair]

Recently an 11 yo's mother told me he'd asked her quite seriously if Santa was real. She replied that he would just have to wait and see.

He said he needed to know because when he was married and had kids, if he relied on Santa being real, but he wasn't, his kids wouldn't get any presents!!

[Hardened Spanker]

There are two reasonably distinct celebrations of Xmas. One is clearly religious, and I wouldn't want to impose that on anyone else.

The other is quite definitely a secular Xmas, and involves things like Santa, trees, decorations, and even the traditional carols.

As long as the Thai celebration is of the latter form of Xmas, I don't think it's an imposition at all.

I'm a confirmed atheist, but don't take offence if someone wishes me a Merry Xmas, or Happy Hannakuh, or Riotous Ramadan, or whatever. I might even wish them the same in return.

So, Merry Xmas (secular) to everyone here.

Agree for the most part in what your saying but the basis of Christmas is religious the name of the holiday is kinda a give away "Christ" and incidently the holiday itself was stolen from one of the Roman pagan gods

Traditional carols are hardly secular, go and have a look at the words to silent night.....there is a verse relating to a virgin who is up the the duff LOL

Actually you're wrong!It pre-dates Rome and Christianity by thousands of years and was originally a a Pagan festival,to celebrate the Winter Solstice,the shortest day of the year and therefore the "re-birth" of the sun!

[simondan]

Utter rubbish. I have no interest in Christmas. It's the students who force it on ME. Open your eyes and look around. The Thais LOVE Christmas.

That's probably true. It's a holiday that has an element of fun and this culture does love the FUN. The commercialism is a plus. I can see a decade from now Christmas being as big in Thailand as in the USA.

Since when has Christmas been about religion? Not for a long time (Jesus who?). Its about making money for retailers in the second quarter of the financial year -pure and simple. You who love it are just pawns being moved around by the retail Gods.

'Commercialism is a plus'. Now I've heard everything.

Thailand being anything like the USA is not a reason to celebrate, even for one day a year - its a reason for profound depression.

Can't we have just one place in the world where no one gives a toss that its the 25th of December (apart from Antarctica)?

[Jingthing]

Utter rubbish. I have no interest in Christmas. It's the students who force it on ME. Open your eyes and look around. The Thais LOVE Christmas.

That's probably true. It's a holiday that has an element of fun and this culture does love the FUN. The commercialism is a plus. I can see a decade from now Christmas being as big in Thailand as in the USA.

Since when has Christmas been about religion? Not for a long time (Jesus who?). Its about making money for retailers in the second quarter of the financial year -pure and simple. You who love it are just pawns being moved around by the retail Gods.

'Commercialism is a plus'. Now I've heard everything.

Thailand being anything like the USA is not a reason to celebrate, even for one day a year - its a reason for profound depression.

Can't we have just one place in the world where no one gives a toss that its the 25th of December (apart from Antarctica)?

I personally don't like it either but I am resigned to the creeping globalization. I would prefer if Thais had not adopted Christmas (their funny take on it anyway) but it happened and it will get worse for sure.

[norrona]

so just cos YOU don't celebrate Christmas and the joy of giving gifts you expect everyone else not to?

Are you a follower of Islam or something?

the secret Santa is just a way of people interacting with each other, surely interaction is good for your children no?

So Christmas is the "joy of giving gifts" is it................

I'd send my kids with an empty shallow box representing "Christmas", hey its the thought that counts.

If your life is empty and shallow then your gift will represent that I suppose

[norrona]

so just cos YOU don't celebrate Christmas and the joy of giving gifts you expect everyone else not to?

Are you a follower of Islam or something?

the secret Santa is just a way of people interacting with each other, surely interaction is good for your children no?

He might be Jewish, he may be of another faith that doesn't celebrate Xmas, he may be atheist,

Your rather bigoted don't you think accusing him of being a follower of Islam

Christianity..... Yes the cult of brotherly love and tolerance being really shown in this post

It was only a question.....not an accusation, why so touchy?

Edited December 30, 2013 by norrona

[norrona]

so just cos YOU don't celebrate Christmas and the joy of giving gifts you expect everyone else not to?

Are you a follower of Islam or something?

the secret Santa is just a way of people interacting with each other, surely interaction is good for your children no?

It appears you have missed the point. Requiring or asking is essentially the same; you are expecting Thai children's parents to buy Chrustmas gifts. That is forcing one's cultural tradition on another culture.

My club support a local school for blind children. We give our gifts at Christmas. Several falangs said, "Thais don't celebrate Christmas." We were quite surprised the first year we delivered the gifts, the chldren gave us a spendid rendition of several of the most popular Christsmas songs--and all the teachers and administrators at the school are Thai, many of them Muslims. However, this is a very different issue, we are donating gifts to the children, not asking them, or their parents, for anything.

does my last sentence mean absolutely nothing to you?

[norrona]

all this religion <deleted> everyones going on about and getting all touchy..... it's a holiday and I don't see Jews-Muslims or atheists in my company turning down the time off and also what even they call and refer to as their 'Christmas Bonus'

[smotherb]

so just cos YOU don't celebrate Christmas and the joy of giving gifts you expect everyone else not to?

Are you a follower of Islam or something?

the secret Santa is just a way of people interacting with each other, surely interaction is good for your children no?

It appears you have missed the point. Requiring or asking is essentially the same; you are expecting Thai children's parents to buy Chrustmas gifts. That is forcing one's cultural tradition on another culture.

My club support a local school for blind children. We give our gifts at Christmas. Several falangs said, "Thais don't celebrate Christmas." We were quite surprised the first year we delivered the gifts, the chldren gave us a spendid rendition of several of the most popular Christsmas songs--and all the teachers and administrators at the school are Thai, many of them Muslims. However, this is a very different issue, we are donating gifts to the children, not asking them, or their parents, for anything.

does my last sentence mean absolutely nothing to you?

Read my first sentence. Then read my second . . . . .