Popular Post cbluck58 Posted December 25, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted December 25, 2013 I think this topic is ridiculous - schools are about learning and learning about other cultures is a responsible attitude to education ; it is not imposing anything, it is advancing knowledge. The OP is a person with a very blinkered viewpoint and possibly xenophobic with a touch of paranoia. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimpys Dad Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Giving gifts to one another at Christmas time, in Christian tradition, is done because the Magi gave gifts to honor a king. They had been studying the stars and probably the Torah as well and knew that there would be a significant event happening so loaded up their caravan and headed west following a bright star. They obviously considered this event important enough to take a long and arduous journey just to see this king. We don't know if they really believed they would actually see a king or not but they sure were prepared just in case, eh what? So this gift-giving became tradition to honor Jesus Christ. The tradition is all about giving (better to give than receive) and whether we like it or not, giving gifts at Christmas time honors Christ no matter why it is done. So even if it is done for purely secular reasons or for spiritual, who is harmed by it, or who is dishonored? It is a great time of the year where we reflect on others and on greater things than ourselves. Merry Christmas to all of you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smotherb Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cup-O-coffee Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Interesting that loong began a thread about what he or she thinks, and it took off like wildfire. "loong" never bothered to respond after the initial thread, so I presume that loong was merely voicing something that really doesn't matter too much. He or she did not say much to point out anything other than what he or she thinks. As the days go by, traditions and views will be ever more challenged and attacked as people discover that they have a voice. My only wish is that any dissenter gives a lot of thought and can bring to the table legitimate and profound insight as to why he or she or they dissent. In a way, perhaps, this is a good thing. Perhaps it will awaken those ideals and views that have long been dormant and rather instead we have taken for granted. I am always trying to change for the better, and I welcome challenges to my beliefs and views when delivered with consideration and moderation. "loong" touched upon some good points, but I wish he or she had gone into more detail. The OP is too general, but I think I understand some of the outlying points which were not touched upon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yourauntbob Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 This has got absolutely nothing to do forcing Christian culture on children!! Thais like to celebrate anything!! Just think about their 3 new year celebrations! Probably there is a price limit on the present, so relax and let the kids have a good time, and forget the political correctness for a day or two!! well said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimpys Dad Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Being non-religious I don't have a problem when kids have a party at school buying presents for each other. Our son of 6 though was not very happy with the set of brown hand towels that he got for a present. It probably needs some explaining to Thai parents that kids fancy other things.... When I was very young, we would visit my grandparents at Christmas. My grandmother and grandfather always gave us kids a small Five & Dime Store stocking with an orange, some nuts and a pair of socks. Not exactly what a little kid wants, don't you know. So it was a bit disappointing, at the time. Now, older and wiser (for the most part) I look back at those small gifts as gestures of love, given from a loving grandmother out of very meager means. The memory of getting those things is far more important than the substance of the gift. So it is the spirit in which something is given, and received, that is significant. We cherish the spirit of giving in time, not the moment in which it occurs. My gift to you this season is the hope that in time you will value the spirit of the giving, and I believe, the set of brown hand towels as well. Merry Christmas, even to the humbugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostmebike Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I think that it is wrong for a teacher to force the culture on the children By asking the kids to sing Jingle Bells and swap gifts, it's hardly forcing 'culture' on them! Anything that opens Thai kid's eyes to the big world outside of Thailand is good with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nputman Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 It's more like pushing consumerism. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recycler Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Being non-religious I don't have a problem when kids have a party at school buying presents for each other. Our son of 6 though was not very happy with the set of brown hand towels that he got for a present. It probably needs some explaining to Thai parents that kids fancy other things.... When I was very young, we would visit my grandparents at Christmas. My grandmother and grandfather always gave us kids a small Five & Dime Store stocking with an orange, some nuts and a pair of socks. Not exactly what a little kid wants, don't you know. So it was a bit disappointing, at the time. Now, older and wiser (for the most part) I look back at those small gifts as gestures of love, given from a loving grandmother out of very meager means. The memory of getting those things is far more important than the substance of the gift. So it is the spirit in which something is given, and received, that is significant. We cherish the spirit of giving in time, not the moment in which it occurs. My gift to you this season is the hope that in time you will value the spirit of the giving, and I believe, the set of brown hand towels as well. Merry Christmas, even to the humbugs I fully agree with you if this was at a village or temple school where you can't expect all parents to have the means to buy fancy presents. But this happened at an expensive bi-lingual school where many kids are delivered with cars that cost more than our house! Anyway, our son is getting used to it, at last years new year party at my work he jumped enthusiastically on the stage to become the proud owner of an electric iron ;-) curious what this year will bring! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTuner Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Next thing you know, you'll be spending November and December surrounded by horrid jingle bells songs. This evil must be stopped at the roots, I say. Luckily it's New Year soon and I get to blow s**t up. Ho Ho Ho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmac Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Similar type school, Thai parents not keen on xmas gift exchanges, my kid got a small bottle of water. He learned some of the downsides holidays in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Merry CHRISTmas all you UK atheists. You may have given up on God but He hasn't given up on you. Mwah! As an atheist one has given up on nothing simply because there was nothing to give up in the first place BTW Happy SATURNalia 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 (edited) We've heard about Thainess. Are y'all so sure you want Thailand to adopt western style Christmas? Edited December 25, 2013 by Jingthing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falangadang Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 (edited) This kind of thing does annoy me. The commerciality of Christmas is bad enough by imposing the notion that everyone ( with any kind of "Christian" or western culture) needs to buy gifts for others just because its the done thing traditionally and that to not participate somehow makes you a Scrooge of sorts. But here's the thing,..the giving of any "gift" is only a true gift when given without the expectation of getting anything in return. Anything more than that, such as expecting a reciprocal gift,.. or the condition of getting a gift provided we have tendered an item of an agreed predetermined value (such as "minimum 100 or 200 baht value") is nothing more than a TRADE,... and NOT a gift. So the mere fact that this school is encouraging (by suggestion or insistence) this practice is not doing anything but enforcing a "gift" trade day which has NOTHING to do with the true spirit of giving or the message of Christmas. I'm not just pointing the finger at this Thai school either,... it happens in the west and it also happens at the Thai church we attend here every year and I find it highly distasteful and riddled with hypocrisy and commercial conformity. That's my 2 cents,.. and merry Christmas everyone! Edited December 25, 2013 by falangadang 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullstop Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpeg Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 This has got absolutely nothing to do forcing Christian culture on children!! Thais like to celebrate anything!! Just think about their 3 new year celebrations! Probably there is a price limit on the present, so relax and let the kids have a good time, and forget the political correctness for a day or two!! I didn't see any of the loathsome PC in the Op's post. This doesn't appear to be on a par with the American Bible Thumpers swarming Kao Lak after the tsunami. HOWEVER. Whist agreeing Thais like a party and will use any excuse for one, (except Easter ), this secret santa/exchanging of gifts crap is the thin edge of the wedge. One of the many reasons I like it here is no bloody Christmas. Now even my Burmese workers told me they wouldn't be around today as it was Christmas and Thai partner off on a Christmas party with some friends. I declined the invite to join in ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Some people need to seriously lighten up. I am no big fan of Christmas as I work each and very Christmas, but what the heck is wrong with the kids having some fun? "Forcing" Christmas on children is wrong, forcing your view of things on everyone else is OK???? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpeg Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 It could be a lot worse, it could be a UK school that is too scared to make a big fuss out of Christmas in-case it offends the non-Christian minority! It would be lovely if you could post some credible links to the UK schools that are too scared to make a big fuss out of Xmas. Not hard.. https://www.google.co.th/search?q=uk+school+bans+christmas&oq=uk+school+bans+christmas&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l2.7022j0j8&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 google search comes up with thousands! Exactly. and while we're at it, how has Happy Christmas suddenly become the Godawful PC American import 'Happy Holidays'??? I wouldn't say that to a Jew celebrating Hannukha or a Muslim Eid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpeg Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I have been celebrating christmas for more than 20 years since I was a little girl coz my dad's company has been doing business with american as partnership group...well, we celebrate it for fun and interaction with other people.....ppl get together , have high tea party and Xmas dinner sharing ideas, feeling and happiness .....after I got married with my husband who is a rock n roll Roman Catholic , we do it every year for fun instead of religious purpose ...and now my daughter is converted to catholic , I m still a not strong Buddhist ....we still do Xmas for fun and they never go to church,......celebrating foreign festive isnt forcing culture.......Thais ' tradition still exist and nobody can stop tradition....even though I v been raised in a western way and live my rest of life in this way, part of me is still Chinese .....don't be paranoid and hold no xenophobia, let 's just have some fun and stay cool... 'coz' you still 'a little girl? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosha Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 It's tradition for Thais to do something like this around New Year. We've been to a few events like this. Sometimes you get crap, most times you get something nice, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostmebike Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I have been celebrating christmas for more than 20 years since I was a little girl coz my dad's company has been doing business with american as partnership group...well, we celebrate it for fun and interaction with other people.....ppl get together , have high tea party and Xmas dinner sharing ideas, feeling and happiness .....after I got married with my husband who is a rock n roll Roman Catholic , we do it every year for fun instead of religious purpose ...and now my daughter is converted to catholic , I m still a not strong Buddhist ....we still do Xmas for fun and they never go to church,......celebrating foreign festive isnt forcing culture.......Thais ' tradition still exist and nobody can stop tradition....even though I v been raised in a western way and live my rest of life in this way, part of me is still Chinese .....don't be paranoid and hold no xenophobia, let 's just have some fun and stay cool... I must confess to not being down with the kids but what is a 'high tea party' and a 'rock n roll roman catholic'? Please help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time Traveller Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 (edited) Hey loong, when you disagree with something here, you don't complain about it. That's not the Thai way. What you need to do is just arrange a group of people who see the real truth like you do and protest outside the school and blockade the entrances forcing all teachers to stop the classes indefinitely. Then blame the school directors for their corruption and dictatorship for forcing the middle and upper class parents to participate in the Santa Claus conspiricy which despite bringing a little excitement to the little kids for a day, is actually a plot to overthrow the great almighty Thai culture and that dam_n American embassy that is probably also behind this and backing the school directors in this puppet school of cronyism.....but you'd better be quick or else all the schools across the nation will have gift exchanges on Christmas day then soon after it will be Easter parades then compulsory prayers at mealtimes then there'll be missionaries knocking on your door for donations, churches opening up everywhere..... and this is just the beginning. The truth has to be told loong. Go out, tell the world! Edited December 25, 2013 by Time Traveller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunpa Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 As long as the teachers do not teach them to pray five times per day, wear bomb belts and preach Holy War, then I really would not worry too much... Merry Christmas! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry1989 Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I am a Christian teacher but like you, I DON'T celebrate christmas. I dont believe I should celebrate it as a Christian. Looking at the Thai kids bringing gifts, foods and preparing a lot for presentations hurt my feelings too much. Even putting a lot of colorful decorations in my room especially the green tree. All of these traditional ways of celebrating christmas were just adopted from the pagans who used to celebrate the birthday of the sun-god (before Christ), which most Christians follow to celebrate birthday of Jesus, totally against the Bible (i cant remember the exact verse but it says "Do not do the same..." Nevertheless, Thai kids enjoy celebrations whether they do or dont know what they are celebrating for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salapau Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Article is written by a bah humbug - not everything's about religion - children can have great funin secret santa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehard60 Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 You dont think it is good to learn other cultures? My God why? I guess you want Thailand to be back when there was a dictator just like suthep ants now. 99% of the children I know love the idea of Christmas and enjoy the act of giving. But i gues you cant understand that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maderaroja Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Chirstmas is what it is: a christian celebration. It should be left out of the schools and left to the parents to teach religion to their children, as they wish. If I had a child, and the school were forcing a gift exchange as a celebration of a christian holiday, christmas, I would move my child to another school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunpa Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 If you look at Thai-people, they love to celebrate all kind of holidays... Christmas, Halloween, New Year, Valentines Day etc. although it has nothing to do with their culture or religion. I actually think that it is good that they celebrate and can see the good in others traditions. My girlfriend and her son both love celebrating Christmas with me. Actually so much, that they now put more time and energy into it than I do. For them it is just a special time for us to be together as a family and they find my Christmas traditions fun too. Same as I have come to like Thai traditions/holidays and love to be an active part of that. I also often go to the temple with my girlfriend. Not to pray, but just because I respect her religion and feel good when going there with her. As long as people enjoy it, I see no harm. It even gives people a better understanding of other cultures and therefore also brings different cultures closer together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastafarian Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I've been teaching in Thailand for a fair few years and every school I've worked at has celebrated Christmas, no mention of Jesus or Christianity though which is how it should be. Everyone has a great time with the kids singing and dancing on stage and then they enjoy a party afterwards where they exchange gifts, nothing wrong with it at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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