Renata KowalskaChristmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays throughout the world, and it’s not hard to see why. The festivities revolve around a celebration of family and friends, with decorations, music, and food typically serving as a reminder of home. Also known as the Holiday Season or Christmas Season, this annual celebration is also popular in many other countries including Thailand. In fact, Thailand has its own unique perspective on how Christmas should be celebrated. Read on to learn more about the holiday traditions in Thailand.
If you are wondering what vaccinations you should visit before traveling abroad, read about it on the Vaccines and Travel Medicine page.
If you are considering travelling to Thailand please think about visiting to a dentist clinic.
What is the Thai calendar?
Like in many parts of Southeast Asia, the Thai calendar is an offshoot of the Indian calendar. According to the Thai lunar calendar, Thai Christmas is usually celebrated on the day of Phra Malai Hanu. The month of Phra Malai Hanu starts with the waning of the crescent moon on the 13th day of the 6th month of the traditional Thai calendar, which is in the month of November.In Buddhist countries of Southeast Asia, Buddhist holidays are often syncretized with ancient tribal traditions. The Thai calendar is no exception. During the month of Phra Malai Hanu, Buddhist monks from the monasteries in the vicinity of Bangkok blow conch shells in order to announce the start of Buddhist Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer. Since this is a Buddhist tradition, the Thai calendar has adjusted accordingly, resulting in the Buddhist holiday of Songkran falling on the same day of the week as Christmas.
Before traveling, remember to vaccinate. You will perform them in the travel medicine clinic.
Buddhist traditions of Thai Christmas
Like any other Buddhist country in Southeast Asia, the Buddhist holidays of Thailand are a mix of ancient Buddhist traditions and new holidays imported from Christianity. During the month of Phra Malai Hanu, Buddhist monks from the monasteries in the vicinity of Bangkok blow conch shells in order to announce the start of Buddhist Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer. Unlike Lent in Christianity, the Thai New Year is not associated with any particular religious holiday. Thai Buddhists believe in an eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The Thai Buddhist New Year is similar to the Chinese New Year in that it is a time for renewal and is a time for planting fresh crops.
If you are wondering what vaccinations you should visit before traveling abroad, read about it on the Vaccines and Travel Medicine page.
Christian traditions of Thai Christmas
Like many Asian countries, the celebration of Christmas in Thailand is a mixture of Buddhist traditions and Christian traditions. Unlike many other Asian countries, however, Thai Christmas does not have a strong Buddhist influence. Instead, Buddhist holidays are often syncretized with ancient tribal traditions. This means that the Thai Christian traditions of Christmas are often more similar to those of Western countries.
Traditions specific to Bangkok
Due to its cosmopolitan nature, Bangkok is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world; this vastly influences the traditions of Thai Christmas in the city. Christmas in Bangkok is often a time for family get-togethers, where Thais from different parts of the country, as well as from neighbouring countries, come together to celebrate the holiday with each other. This is often done through gatherings at the home of a friend or relative, where Thais from various parts of the city share food and drinks, exchange presents, and play games such as Chinese checkers and Chinese dominoes. Christmas is also a time when Bangkok celebrates the rich cultures of other countries, such as exchanging Christmas decorations and food from other countries. Christmas in Bangkok is often more about the fun of getting together with family and friends than about religion or politics.
Before traveling, remember to vaccinate. You will perform them in the travel medicine clinic.
