Traveling through Southeast Asia during the western “holiday season” is a unique experience. First off, Thanksgiving is nonexistent unless you can find a group of expats meeting up somewhere – obvious, as Thanksgiving is only really celebrated in the US.
With Christmas, things are a bit different. Most countries in the region are predominantly either Buddhist, Hindu, or Muslim, so the Christian holiday is not religiously observed. That said, the secular/consumer side of Christmas has penetrated.
While you do need to keep your eyes peeled for signs of the Christmas spirit, it is definitely here! We’ve been in Thailand for the majority of December, and really started seeing decorations pop up around the 10th-15th. You’ll see Christmas trees set up inside stores/restaurants and outside at markets, as well as lights strung up outside on occasion. Real close to the holiday you’ll also start hearing Christmas music in the background – we even heard Mariah Carey’s “All I want For Christmas Is You” in one store!
Below is a collection of photographs capturing the holiday vibe in Thailand – enjoy!
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