I used to find it disturbing years ago in America when Christmas started creeping up on us earlier and earlier. It used to be that the day after Thanksgiving was the official start to the Christmas holidays for businesses. You would see Christmas trees going up in store windows and lights being strung across eaves of stores with the obligatory Merry Christmas signs. Of course, these days in America it’s almost illegal to utter such foul language as” Merry Christmas”. It all has to be sanitary and unnattached such as saying “Happy Holidays”.
Nowadays you start seeing holiday stuff even earlier but being an American living in America you kinda take it for granted and it all becomes part of the corporate machines subliminal scenery.
Living in Thailand Christmas creeps up early too. I did a double take the day after Halloween when I went to the Avenue Market to pick up a few things and was confronted by a Christmas tree all lit up with packages wrapped and placed under it and Santa Claus standing beside it pointing to a sign on the tree that read ” Merry Christmas”. For the Thai’s though Christmas has a different meaning and outlook.
The beginning of November is the start of high season and hopefully jolly St. Nick will be bringing many tourists to the Land of Smiles with money laden pockets. It’s also the holiday season with Loy Krathong coming up next weekend ( November 21 ) and the Christmas/New Years holidays just around the corner which means much sanook ( fun ) for everyone.
I don’t mind seeing Christmas decorations going up early in Thailand, it doesn’t cause the same shopping/holiday stress it does in the States. Here it’s all about the fun, decorations and cute Thai girls wearing Santa hats…Santa’s elves if you will.
Plus I have the added joy of knowing that I won’t be shoveling snow this year, and when someone tells me there is a cool front moving in I know that means it might dip down to 75 degrees at midnight, brrrrrr.
There is also the joy of hearing a Thai girl saying “Merry Christmas” for the very first time
The holiday season never felt so right…
I’ll be out of town until Wednesday…heading to Bangkok, Udon Thani and Laos so hopefully like Santa I will be bringing back many goodies for all the good boys and girls and some coal for myself.
Comments are open again thanks to my trusty iPod… Somehow wordpress borked the permissions.
The Thai girls in their Santa hats look very cute. I like hearing them sing Jingle Bells. It comes out as ‘Jinger Ben, Jinger Ben’
Thai Connoisseur´s last blog ..Symmetrically snoozing cats at Wat Benchamabophit
Thank you for that Thai, I just mentioned jingle bells and my girl just broke out in song… Hilarius it was and cute.
Originally from the Midwest, I expect below freezing temperatures and lots of snow during the holiday season.
In the past, when I returned to my hotel sunburned and sweating profusely, I felt slightly disjointed when I was greeted by a Santa Claus and a flocked Christmas tree.
I guess I have become jaded over the years and now ignore the decorations as much as I do when I am in the states.
BTW – Merry Kissmas !
It is slightly odd sweating up a storm during the holidays but you can’t beat the view
Talen, Christmas in Pattaya is a whole lot different to the western world’s way of doing things. Pattaya’s festivities are pure fun and joviality which is probably how it was in America and the UK many many years ago. Let’s hope it remains that way.
Have fun in Udon and make sure you check out the night market if you haven’t already.
Martyn´s last blog ..Thailand’s Amazing and Dangerous Roads
Darn, I forgot all about Kit-mutt/Kiss-muss until you blogged on it. Thanks a lot!
Yes, going to Christmas dinner when it’s 34C is a bit hard to get used to, but I will give it a go!
SiamRick´s last blog ..To fall or not fall for new Kawasaki ‘big bike’