{"id":3083,"date":"2016-12-14T09:00:20","date_gmt":"2016-12-14T09:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/thai\/?p=3083"},"modified":"2016-12-07T15:52:24","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T15:52:24","slug":"christmas-in-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/thai\/christmas-in-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas in Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a country that is 95% Buddhist, you probably wouldn’t expect to see much of a Christmas celebration in Thailand. Believe it or not, Christmas is celebrated – as a secular holiday – by many across the country. There are also a few Christians who celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday. Let’s learn a bit about Christmas in Thailand as well as some Thai vocabulary.<\/p>\n

Christianity in Thailand<\/h2>\n
\"16653881324<\/a>

Image by Paul_the_Seeker from flickr.com.<\/p><\/div>\n

Christianity<\/strong> (\u0e28\u0e32\u0e2a\u0e19\u0e32\u0e04\u0e23\u0e34\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e4c s\u00e0at-s\u00e0-n\u0103a kr\u00edt<\/em>) came to Thailand via European missionaries, starting with the\u00a0Portuguese. Under King Narai<\/strong> (\u0e19\u0e32\u0e23\u0e32\u0e22\u0e13\u0e4c), European missionaries were treated quite well and had a large influence at court. This was reversed after his death, when Westerners were expelled from the country. This lasted over 100 years, until King Taksin<\/strong> (\u0e15\u0e32\u0e01\u0e2a\u0e34\u0e19) welcomed French missionaries into Thailand and even helped them build a church. Protestants arrived in Bangkok in 1828, followed closely by American Baptists and Presbyterians. The missionaries didn’t have much success in converting people, but they did introduce Western medicine, technology, and methodology. They even introduced the printing press and helped set up the first one using the Thai script. However, it was not until the 1970s that the church began to see significant growth in Thailand. As of the 2000 census, there were\u00a0486,840 Christians in Thailand – just around 1% of the population.<\/p>\n

A Thai Christmas<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Image by empty007 from www.flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Thai people are known to be very fun-loving and tolerant, so it should come as no surprise that many welcome the chance to celebrate another holiday.\u00a0Christmas<\/strong> (\u0e27\u0e31\u0e19\u0e04\u0e23\u0e34\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e21\u0e32\u0e2a wan kr\u00edt-m\u00e2at<\/em>) isn’t a national holiday, but it is quite popular – especially the commercial aspect. You may not hear a lot of people talk about Jesus<\/strong> (\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e22\u0e0b\u0e39 pr\u00e1 yay-soo<\/em>), but shopping malls are decked out in Christmas trees<\/strong>\u00a0(\u0e15\u0e49\u0e19\u0e04\u0e23\u0e34\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e21\u0e32\u0e2a dt\u00f4n kr\u00edt-m\u00e2at<\/em>), “Jingle Bells<\/strong>” (\u0e23\u0e30\u0e06\u0e31\u0e07\u0e01\u0e23\u0e34\u0e4a\u0e07 r\u00e1-kang gr\u00edng<\/em>) are ringing, and you may even spot Santa Claus<\/strong>\u00a0(\u0e0b\u0e32\u0e19\u0e15\u0e32\u0e04\u0e25\u0e2d\u0e2a saan-dtaa-kl\u00f4t<\/em>). It’s definitely not going to be a white Christmas<\/strong> (\u0e04\u0e23\u0e34\u0e2a\u0e21\u0e32\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e2a\u0e35\u0e02\u0e32\u0e27 kr\u00edt-m\u00e2at s\u0115e k\u0103ao<\/em>) and you won’t be building a snowman<\/strong> (\u0e23\u0e39\u0e1b\u0e1b\u0e31\u0e49\u0e19 \u0e21\u0e19\u0e38\u0e29\u0e22\u0e4c \u0e2b\u0e34\u0e21\u0e30 r\u00f4op bp\u00e2n m\u00e1-n\u00fat h\u00ec-m\u00e1<\/em>), but you can still give your loved ones a gift<\/strong> (\u0e02\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e02\u0e27\u0e31\u0e0d k\u014fng kw\u0103n<\/em>) and sing some Christmas carols<\/strong> (\u0e40\u0e1e\u0e25\u0e07\u0e04\u0e23\u0e34\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e21\u0e32\u0e2a playing kr\u00edt-m\u00e2at<\/em>). Lots of tourists come to Thailand to ring in the holidays, so you’ll certainly find a festive atmosphere come December, especially in places like Bangkok and Phuket.<\/p>\n

How to Say “Merry Christmas” in Thai<\/h2>\n
\"7457961848<\/a>

Image by Mark Fischer from flickr.com.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you’re celebrating Christmas in Thailand, you should learn how to give season’s greetings in the local language. Here’s how you say “Merry Christmas” in Thai:<\/p>\n

\u0e2a\u0e38\u0e02\u0e2a\u0e31\u0e19\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e27\u0e31\u0e19\u0e04\u0e23\u0e34\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e4c\u0e21\u0e32\u0e2a
\ns\u00f9k-k\u00e0-s\u0103n wan kr\u00edt-m\u00e2at
\nMerry Christmas<\/h3>\n

While you’re at it, you might as well learn how to say “Happy New Year:”<\/p>\n

\u0e2a\u0e27\u0e31\u0e2a\u0e14\u0e35\u0e1b\u0e35\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e48
\ns\u00e0-w\u00e0t-dee bpee m\u00e0i
\nHappy New Year<\/h3>\n

Practice both of these phrases with the help of Thai With Mod in this short video:<\/p>\n