Christmas trees and mistletoe – yes or no?

By Amornrat Sidhu

The meaning, or shall I say, the ‘feeling’ of Christmas, has changed over the years, luring all in with Thailand’s commitment to the brightest lights, iconic trees, classic carols, and reds and greens. Regardless of your faith, it’s become all-encompassing, seeping its way into the Thai-Indian community more and more. How do Thai-Indians get into the festive spirit? We asked a few to chime (and jingle) in.

SUKHMANI EUANANRAK
Assistant Production Manager, Unifine Creations Co., Ltd.

Getting into the Festive Spirit

Christmas is one of my favourite festive seasons. It’s the season of spreading joy, bringing in positive vibes, and welcoming the end-of-year holidays. I put up a Christmas tree at home and decorate it the way I want. I get dressed up in holiday colours and put on Christmas music, and try to enjoy the festive season with my family.

I Won’t Cross This Line

Everyone has their own way of getting into the festive spirit. The holiday has become so commercialised that there can be societal pressure amongst kids, or even parents, to participate in a host of activities that one might not be comfortable with. Yet, the key word is ‘comfort.’ It is okay to have limitations on what is celebrated and what is not, and everyone should respect each other’s wishes on how they want to celebrate. The holiday season should not be spoiled for anyone.

Nani and I View Santa Different

Hailing from the Sikh community, I was always told that we should not be celebrating Christmas as it is not a part of our culture. Additionally, Christmas also falls during the martyrdom days of our Four Sahibzaades and other Sikh martyrs. Many elders believe that the celebration of Christmas overpowers an important milestone in our very own history.

My personal belief, whilst keeping aside the religious aspect with utmost respect, is that I wanted to fiill the festive season with positive vibes around me and bring in joy and warmth for myself and my family. Being someone who loves to explore different cultures, I wanted to embrace the fun and secular aspect of the festive spirit. I have convinced my family to get a small Christmas tree at home, and we use Christmas as an excuse to have a special dinner or a get-together.

SIMREN BHARARA (NARISA SINGHNARULA)
Secondary School English Teacher

Embracing the Holiday Cheer

For me, Christmas is all about meaningful get-togethers, each with its own festive theme. On Christmas Day, we spend time with family, gathering around a beautifully-decorated tree with presents piled underneath. It’s a day filled with love, laughter and tradition. We enjoy a full Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings – a proper British Christmas! Watching The King’s Speech (the annual address to the UK by their monarch) has become a cherished part of the day, and the excitement is infectious, especially for the children.

In the run-up to Christmas, we love taking our son to see Santa’s Grotto, admiring the dazzling Christmas lights and decorations that brighten up London. With colleagues, we keep the festive spirit alive by having a Christmas dinner at a cosy pub, complete with a turkey roast menu, and exchanging ‘Secret Santa’ gifts. When it’s time to celebrate with friends, we organise a big Christmas lunch where everyone wears their best Christmas jumpers. Gifts for the kids are exchanged.

Staying Grounded at Christmas

Living in the UK, a predominantly-Christian country, we embrace Christmas as a widely-celebrated holiday. For us, the focus is less on the material value of gifts and more on appreciation and togetherness. While Christmas has undeniably become a commercialised season, we take it at face value, cherishing the opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones on this national public holiday.

Thai Christmas vs. British Christmas

Growing up in Thailand, Christmas looked quite different. Turkeys weren’t easy to come by, so we never had the traditional full Christmas dinner. Though Christmas is not a public holiday there, it is still celebrated in a commercial sense. We would decorate a small tree at home, exchange gifts, and enjoy Secret Santa with friends. However, festive pub meals – so quintessentially British – weren’t really a part of the Thai Christmas experience.

Now, living in England, I love embracing the traditional British Christmas with all its customs, but I also cherish the unique ways we celebrated back in Thailand. Each adds its own special layer to the festive season.

NISHA KASATRI
Stay-At-Home Mum

Joining the Festive Fun

Christmas is a very special time for my family and me, not just as a holiday season, but also because my daughter was born on Christmas Eve. From that year onwards, this double celebration has undoubtedly been one of the most joyful days of the year. We put up our Christmas tree, begin writing down lists of gifts to buy, plan get-togethers, and turn on Christmas carols, all in conjunction with designing birthday cakes and birthday parties. Double the celebration, double the joy!

Holiday Magic, With Boundaries

I often tell my children that Christmas holidays, just like any other holiday, symbolises togetherness. Our aim is to celebrate the season as a global citizen and to immerse ourselves in the values that this holiday encompasses and to respect those individuals who do not wish to celebrate it. Whatever their personal beliefs of Santa, gift giving, or the season, it is up to them and them alone.

Nani and I View Santa the Same

Since Christmas is celebrated globally, transcending most cultural and religious boundaries, I would say my viewpoint and my parents’ viewpoint are quite similar. Although I must emphasise that in this day and age, being surrounded by the sights of magical Christmas trees and the sweet melodies of Christmas carols, it is much easier to get into the spirit of this festive season compared to many years before.

Heard Around the Thai-Indian Community

• “Christmas is okay to celebrate if you look at it superficially and don’t take much meaning into it religiously. It is a good way to just make life a little more fun, and our kids can also join in school activities and themed events freely.”

• “There is nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas if you are aware of your own history and roots. It is still a Christian holiday, and there are still missionaries all over the world targeting poor areas, even in Punjab. These missionaries offer food and aid only after conversion. Getting sucked into the secular meaning of Christmas can sometimes confuse people who take their religion seriously and might mistake an Indian person’s superficial enthusiasm for something else. People in Bangkok are shielded from this reality because the community is quite large. However, one must always be aware of why one is indulging in something, especially if it is tied to culture and religion.”

• “Secret Santas are fun, dressing up in theme is fun, and we look forward to knowing that we will meet up for our Christmas-themed get-together even though it has been difficult meeting up with friends and family amidst bus schedules throughout the year. Perhaps it is the fact that Christmas happens at the end of the year, so we reflect and make more of an effort to meet before the close of the old, and the start of the new.”