How Thais Celebrate Christmas Their Own Way
- Jirabhorn S.
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
90% of Thais are Buddhist, yet every December the country fills with Christmas trees and Jingle Bells. So how do Buddhists in Thailand celebrate Christmas?
In the Eyes of Thais, Christmas is a "Festival of Happiness"
Most traditional Thai festivals are closely tied to temples, focusing on merit-making and maintaining a calm atmosphere rooted in Buddhist beliefs. Apart from Songkran, few Thai festivals highlight energetic celebrations or large-scale festivities.
Thanks to the friendly nature of Thai people and an open-minded society, Thailand has warmly embraced many international festivals, including Christmas.
Especially because Christmas comes with elements rarely found in traditional Thai festivals. From sparkling decorative lights and bright green Christmas trees, to the heartwarming story of Santa Claus who gives gifts to children, as well as gift exchanges and social gatherings with friends and family.
For these reasons, many Thai people see Christmas as a “festival of happiness” rather than a religious holiday, and have adapted its traditions to fit Thai society.
Celebrating Christmas, Thai Style
Grand Decorations and Christmas Trees at Malls
The primary signal that Christmas is approaching in Thailand is the spectacular decoration of shopping malls with enormous Christmas trees and light displays. Malls compete to create the most magnificent décor, coupled with year-end promotions designed to attract customers.
Dressing up nicely to take photos with the Christmas trees at these malls has become a highly popular activity for Thai people throughout December. Some people even put their hands together in a Wai gesture to pray and ask the Christmas tree for blessings. This is truly "Thai-Style Christmas."
Thai-Style Social Gatherings
While Westerners might think of turkey as the symbol of Christmas dinner, Thai people prefer something different. For Thais, the holiday feast is all about easy-to-share food like หมูกระทะ /mǔu grà-tá/ (Thai BBQ) or fresh seafood.
These celebrations happen at restaurants, homes, or offices, focusing on big groups. The highlights are always about eating together, chatting, and having fun with activities like singing karaoke.
The Gift Exchange Activity
In schools, workplaces, or even family gatherings, gift draws (Secret Santa) are a Christmas favorite. With fun rules like “a gift starting with ก /k/” or “something green,” the excitement doubles bringing plenty of laughter and surprises to the season
For these reasons, Christmas in Thailand is not about religion; it is about the "Happiness and Fun" that Thai people look forward to every year.
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