Technically, Christmas is not celebrated in Thailand. The April holiday of Songkran, or Thai New Year, is probably the closest equivalent, when families come together in a celebration centered around Buddhist practices. But December 25 is not a public holiday, and in most cases, the only time you’d find a Thai having Christmas Day off, would be if it happened to fall on their usual day off.
Thailand is predominantly Buddhist – around 90% of the population – with a significant Muslim population in the south, and around 1% who are Christian. Beyond the big cities and island holiday hotspots, you’d be hard-pressed to tell that it’s Christmas.
But step into a shopping mall, bar, or restaurant in the aforementioned tourist locations however, and the scene tells a different story. In the larger cities and on the holiday islands, the influence of Western culture is very evident. You…
