Thais explain what Christmas means to them

[LarryLEB]

I'm not a church goer, but I respect my religion as I respect all other religions.

Many times I felt the mystique visiting a Thai Wat and admire the Thais for their belief in their religion.

Don't look at some incidents, look at the majority.

And the majority of Thais also respect other religions and at the same time they love anything to do with celebrations.

For them Christmas is fun and they will embrace anything that brings a smile in their face.

For me Christmas is not nonsense as said before......it's the birth of the man that his teachings have been followed by Trillions of people for the past 2014 years.

Costas: "Trillions" is not accurate. The total number of people who have ever lived and died

is estimated to be around 108 billion.

I do, however, totally agree with the rest of your post! Happy Christmas.

[lcp0761]

To provide guidance on the difference between Santa and Jesus, the later is a religious figure whom Catholics refer to as "the son of man". Jesus's birth on Christmas Eve was in a barn setting in Bethlehem and had three (3) traveling Kings pay him homage with various gifts.

Correlating the Catholic religious concept on gift giving by parents to their young kids later has become commercialized to what we have here today (seeing stores advertising Christmas ornaments at/before Thanksgivings day - Nov 25-27 (the last Thursday of Nov)).

If there is any take away from the Christmas holiday season it should be to celebrate family time together (both young and old) versus asking for the latest electronics, clothes, shoes,...

[Acharn]

Frankly i enjoy christmas in Thailand,without the absurd commercial hype that it has become in the west,no surprises in the article,being a Buddist country,what else would they think.

What are you talking about? Christmas in Thailand is nothing but absurd commercial hype. At least in the West there is an understanding of the spirit of Xmas, that doesn't have to be about religion and goes way way deeper than the stupid Coca Cola man that the Thais expect their farang teachers to clown dress up as.

You need to get out of Bangkok. Or at least stay away from Sukhumwit. No, getting out of Bangkok altogether is better. I recall ten years ago the subway stations were all playing Xmas music. I now live in Nakhon Sawan and there's virtually no Xmas promotion here, even in the Big C, our only supermarket/shopping mall/department store.

[brewsterbudgen]

We should all just celebrate Festivus. Bring on the feats of strength...

[emilymat]

My Mrs will be spending her first Christmas in Oz.

She just asked me what will we do tomorrow.

I said we will go and see the daughter, her husband and the grandkids to give them presents, then come home and have a couple of friends over for a feed..

Her face dropped.

She wanted to go to the city (60k away) to see the huge parties.

I tried to explain that this doesn't happen...the place will be totally dead...no shops/pubs open etc.

Different cultural expectations I guess.

She has since cheered up knowing that New Years eve will be huge.

I understand fully.

Strange, in the UK, where for weeks they bang on about the 'build up' to the 'big day'. On the 'big day' itself many people are bored stiff and cannot wait until Boxing Day for the sales and Premier League football.

[aboctok]

Many Thai have asked me what is the correlation between Santa and Jesus Christ. Of course, there isn't any.

There is, they're both fictitious. Sorry kids.

Clearly you don't know your subject. Read here, for starters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Jesus

A small paradox. The article you cite clearly accepts that the historical existence of Jesus is a matter of at least some contention. But you don't. Should we believe you, or the article you recommend?

[vogie]

Jesus was not born in a stable, says theologian

• Andrew Brown

• The Guardian, Tuesday 23 December 2014 19.14 GMT

The birth of Christ may be the most famous Bible story of all, reprised annually in nativity scenes across the world each Christmas: Jesus was born in a stable, because there was no room at the inn. But evangelical scholar Rev Ian Paul has argued that the entire story may be based on a misreading of the New Testament, reviving an ancient theory that Jesus was not, in fact, born in a stable.

Well that's cleared that one up then.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/23/jesus-christ-not-born-in-stable-theologian-new-testament

[Alwyn]

Hey who can blame the Thais for enjoying this celebration. They can have a good drink and be happy - when it's a big Buddha day or royal birthday they get time off work and cannot celebrate with a drink! Drink, eat & be merry!! Merry Christmas to all TV members!

[Jingthing]

I don't like Christmas here because Thais think just cause I have white skin I'm supposed to be celebrating it. I thought I could escape such inanity in non-Christian country but apparently not.

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Strange, as Jesus didn't have white skin.

If Jesus even existed in the first place, that is.

If he did, I suppose he would have had darker olive skin.

[kartman]

Forget the Jesus angle i just want to join Duangcheevan in her many activities over the holiday.

[sdanielmcev]

A Bacchanalian celebration of the return of longer days. Co-opted by church leaders to impose their will on the masses.

[bkkgooner]

I don't like Christmas here because Thais think just cause I have white skin I'm supposed to be celebrating it. I thought I could escape such inanity in non-Christian country but apparently not.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Must be a miserable time of the year for you, the rest of us are having a good time for no real reason beyond being happy with family, eating lots, giving and getting gifts and just generally being nice,

[Docno]

I'm not a church goer, but I respect my religion as I respect all other religions.

Many times I felt the mystique visiting a Thai Wat and admire the Thais for their belief in their religion.

Don't look at some incidents, look at the majority.

And the majority of Thais also respect other religions and at the same time they love anything to do with celebrations.

For them Christmas is fun and they will embrace anything that brings a smile in their face.

For me Christmas is not nonsense as said before......it's the birth of the man that his teachings have been followed by Trillions of people for the past 2014 years.

There hasn't been a trillion people alive in the past 2000 years, much less a trillion Christians.

[Jingthing]

I don't like Christmas here because Thais think just cause I have white skin I'm supposed to be celebrating it. I thought I could escape such inanity in non-Christian country but apparently not.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Must be a miserable time of the year for you, the rest of us are having a good time for no real reason beyond being happy with family, eating lots, giving and getting gifts and just generally being nice,

Not really. I just don't like people assuming I'm a Christian.

[thailiketoo]

You are asking people who have three New Years celebrations why they like Christmas! Priceless.

[Squeegee]

Frankly i enjoy christmas in Thailand,without the absurd commercial hype that it has become in the west,no surprises in the article,being a Buddist country,what else would they think.

What are you talking about? Christmas in Thailand is nothing but absurd commercial hype. At least in the West there is an understanding of the spirit of Xmas, that doesn't have to be about religion and goes way way deeper than the stupid Coca Cola man that the Thais expect their farang teachers to clown dress up as.

You need to get out of Bangkok. Or at least stay away from Sukhumwit. No, getting out of Bangkok altogether is better. I recall ten years ago the subway stations were all playing Xmas music. I now live in Nakhon Sawan and there's virtually no Xmas promotion here, even in the Big C, our only supermarket/shopping mall/department store.

I was in Isaan 3 years ago (Sisaket) and the school made up it's own bizarre Xmas celebration which was depressing. It was like a sick joke watching them ignorantly take over a part of my own culture. They meant well, in that they had the very best intentions to not give a damn about the feelings of their guest as long as they could have some kind of irrelevant excuse for a party and squeeze in a bit of face for the school. I otherwise had a great time there but that Xmas just taught me it's the Thais' country and they will do with foreigners and foreign culture what they like.

Xmas in Thailand to me is just a reminder that many (not all) Thais make little effort to have understanding for anything non-Thai.

On the other hand, last year in BKK I was invited to 2 Xmas parties where the Thais made no effort to party over the Coca Cola Man: to the backdrop of a Xmas tree everyone exchanged presents and ate Thai food and otherwise celebrated Thai style. That to me was a lot more enjoyable because although the excuse for the get together was for a "Xmas party" it was as much about the end of another year as anything and there was little pretense or bullcrap.

But really this wasn't so much a difference between Thais in Sisaket and BKK, it was more about the difference between an adult celebration and the idiotic education system they have here.

Edited December 24, 2014 by Squeegee

[super22k]

Of course I believe in Santa Claus.I hang my stocking by my bed and every time he comes down the chimney and fills it up with goodies.Santa Claus and Father Christmas,but where does Saint Nicolas come into this?

I love christmas but I hate the commercialisation of it.Does anyone know what price William Hill or Ladbrokes the Bookmakers are giving for a white christmas in Britain this year?....see what I mean.

[mikemac]

I don't like Christmas here because Thais think just cause I have white skin I'm supposed to be celebrating it. I thought I could escape such inanity in non-Christian country but apparently not.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Must be a miserable time of the year for you, the rest of us are having a good time for no real reason beyond being happy with family, eating lots, giving and getting gifts and just generally being nice,

Not really. I just don't like people assuming I'm a Christian.

JT, I offer you a challenge, try to go a whole day without making an assumption on someone you meet, or see on the street.

Let me know how you get on.

[Berkshire]

Frankly i enjoy christmas in Thailand,without the absurd commercial hype that it has become in the west,no surprises in the article,being a Buddist country,what else would they think.

What are you talking about? Christmas in Thailand is nothing but absurd commercial hype. At least in the West there is an understanding of the spirit of Xmas, that doesn't have to be about religion and goes way way deeper than the stupid Coca Cola man that the Thais expect their farang teachers to clown dress up as.

Do you know how silly you sound? This "spirit of Xmas" in the west was lost a long time ago. There's much more commercial hype BS in the west than in Thailand. Open your eyes a bit. The Thais just go with the flow, sort of like Valentine's Day and Halloween. But if you're not a devout Christian, of course it's not going to mean as much.

[MrWorldwide]

Let's look at this logically - a Jewish carpenter's son who hung out with hookers and rogues only to be done in by a supposed mate. Ignore the nationality and it's just another night here in Pattaya. As others have mentioned, for the Thais its another excuse to try to flog ridiculous tat to tourists fresh off the plane - I dont know if it's them or us but they seem convinced that anything with a flashing light must be a guaranteed sale. Clearly, we all have the sensibilities of a slow 12-year old.

[lvr181]

Some Christians say the Bible is "inerrant", others seem to challenge that belief! Therefore, I would take any comment regarding what happened, or did not happen, with a "grain of salt"

Apart from being a fun social occasion for some Thai peoples and farangs, it is a good opportunity for everyone to be nice to each other. Outside of that, give it a miss

[marko kok prong]

Frankly i enjoy christmas in Thailand,without the absurd commercial hype that it has become in the west,no surprises in the article,being a Buddist country,what else would they think.

What are you talking about? Christmas in Thailand is nothing but absurd commercial hype. At least in the West there is an understanding of the spirit of Xmas, that doesn't have to be about religion and goes way way deeper than the stupid Coca Cola man that the Thais expect their farang teachers to clown dress up as.

Possibly it is commercial if you are in Bangkok,pattaya,Phuket etc,as i live in a rural area it goes by without notice,as for the dressing up bit i would not know as i am not a Teacher,thats what i am talking about.

[Blackfish64]

And what, may I ask, is wrong with "absurd commercial hype"? Are you putting bad connotations on absurd commercial hype?

[micmichd]

For me Christmas is terror.

[HughJass]

I don't like Christmas here because Thais think just cause I have white skin I'm supposed to be celebrating it. I thought I could escape such inanity in non-Christian country but apparently not.

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jews dont celebrate Xmas do they ?

Edited December 25, 2014 by HughJass

[pgrahmm]

They love the different music.....the unusual music....the festive Christmas spirit.....my wife loves putting up and lighting the Christmas tree....after we put it up and lit it and watched the lights twinkling my wife went over and gave the tree a little warm hug.....

[thailiketoo]

I don't like Christmas here because Thais think just cause I have white skin I'm supposed to be celebrating it. I thought I could escape such inanity in non-Christian country but apparently not.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

jews dont celebrate Xmas do they ?

Yes they do in the USA. If you don't then you get exiled to Thailand.

Edited December 25, 2014 by thailiketoo

[Jingthing]

I don't like Christmas here because Thais think just cause I have white skin I'm supposed to be celebrating it. I thought I could escape such inanity in non-Christian country but apparently not.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Must be a miserable time of the year for you, the rest of us are having a good time for no real reason beyond being happy with family, eating lots, giving and getting gifts and just generally being nice,

Not really. I just don't like people assuming I'm a Christian.

JT, I offer you a challenge, try to go a whole day without making an assumption on someone you meet, or see on the street.

Let me know how you get on.

Everyone does that mate. If you didn't you'd get run over by a car in minutes.

[thailiketoo]

Must be a miserable time of the year for you, the rest of us are having a good time for no real reason beyond being happy with family, eating lots, giving and getting gifts and just generally being nice,

Not really. I just don't like people assuming I'm a Christian.

JT, I offer you a challenge, try to go a whole day without making an assumption on someone you meet, or see on the street.

Let me know how you get on.

Everyone does that mate. If you didn't you'd get run over by a car in minutes.

If a non Chinese person in NYC is eating Chinese food on Christmas what do you assume?

[Squeegee]

Frankly i enjoy christmas in Thailand,without the absurd commercial hype that it has become in the west,no surprises in the article,being a Buddist country,what else would they think.

What are you talking about? Christmas in Thailand is nothing but absurd commercial hype. At least in the West there is an understanding of the spirit of Xmas, that doesn't have to be about religion and goes way way deeper than the stupid Coca Cola man that the Thais expect their farang teachers to clown dress up as.

Do you know how silly you sound? This "spirit of Xmas" in the west was lost a long time ago. There's much more commercial hype BS in the west than in Thailand. Open your eyes a bit. The Thais just go with the flow, sort of like Valentine's Day and Halloween. But if you're not a devout Christian, of course it's not going to mean as much.

I believe your own lack of insight and denial of most Westerners who actually do celebrate with their families and try to show goodwill is really making you look like the silly one. The over-commercialization in the West is very different to the Asian version, where there is no underlying peace and goodwill or any effort towards togetherness.

Your claim "This "spirit of Xmas" in the west was lost a long time ago" is absolute garbage unless based on Christianity. Are you trying to push religious dogma here? Otherwise, open your own eyes to the vast majority of Western households celebrating Xmas whilst bemoaning its commercialization: because they know damn well the shops are overdoing it but they'll still get with their families on Xmas Day.

Really, you're just blowing hot air whilst trying to score points.