merry Xmas. Do you miss your family/friends?

[Yinn]

 

Good morning. 

Now exciting time of year. Most Thai worker have holiday for New Year next week.

Many worker in Thailand go to Bangkok or another province for there job. So this time of year opportunity can return there hometown to visit family and old friend.

 

I have work friend, uni friend, but my closest friends is the friend in my village who I go together primary and high school before.

They are like brothers and sisters for me, and there parents like Auntie and Uncle. We shared the life together. Will be friend for life.

 

Uni and work friend, can be good friend, but the hometown/school friend is special for me the most. 

When I went to uni before, I still chat with them on Line etc, but when return New year and Songkran, is good feeling to see there family, there brothers, sisters, cousins, mother and father also. I really miss them. 

Now I return already, but still happy my old friend come who work away will visit next week (two have baby I not meet yet, is exciting)

 

Many TVF member live in Thailand. Xmas time for westerer/Christian is like New year and Songkran for Thai. Family together time.

 

Do you go back home country/village to visit at Xmas?

You family come to see you in Thailand?
Do you miss your family and old friend at Xmas since you live in Thailand?

 

Merry Xmas everyone.

[thaibeachlovers]

It's not Xmas- it's Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ. IMO it should not be a holiday in Thailand because Buddhists don't believe in Jesus.

It shouldn't be a holiday in any western country either, because most people are not Christians.

If they want a holiday, at least be honest and call it something else.

All it is now is a pagan festival, which is what it used to be before the Christians co opted it.

[wgdanson]

Happy Winter Solstice to all the Pagans and Druids!

[Odysseus123]

10 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Happy Winter Solstice to all the Pagans and Druids!

Io Saturnalia!

[wgdanson]

2 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Io Saturnalia!

Had to Google it, but sounds like those Romans had the right idea.

[OneMoreFarang]

I don't miss my family.

And my best friends are my current friends where I live.

Sure, it's nice to keep contact with people with whom we grew up with and if we like some of our family members then stay in touch with them.

But I think it's preferable to live in the here and now and not in the imaginary good times in the past.

 

And about x-mas: It should be renamed to shopping-and-eating-season or pretend-all-is-fine-season.

I never know if I should laugh or get angry when I see huge Christmas trees in front of shopping malls in Thailand in November. Shopping, shopping shopping - what a crazy season.

[ivor bigun]

Not really ,i keep in contact with them all the time via line and messenger etc free,not like when i first came here 1.70 a minute by phone 

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, Yinn said:

Merry Xmas everyone

@Yinn, how do you feel when your mostly Buddhist homeland makes a huge fuss out of other people religion's special days?

Does that not all look somehow strange to you? Do you like it?

[NCC1701A]

not really. when i go home i get tired of answering all my sister's friend's husband's questions about "What is it really like?"

 

i would just like to take a moment of your time to remind you all we are in a fight for the soul of this forum.

 

Don't be deceived.  Vote NCC1701A for POTY. 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2019 by NCC1701A

[tomazbodner]

53 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It's not Xmas- it's Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ. IMO it should not be a holiday in Thailand because Buddhists don't believe in Jesus.

It shouldn't be a holiday in any western country either, because most people are not Christians.

If they want a holiday, at least be honest and call it something else.

All it is now is a pagan festival, which is what it used to be before the Christians co opted it.

Yes, it should be called Coca Cola holiday. That's who designed Santa that awful red and white outfit...

[Colabamumbai]

Sure I miss what would be the Christmas season in Canada, some turkey, the tree etc., but not the snow. Half of my 70 years have been spent away from "home". 

[soalbundy]

No

[Yinn]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

@Yinn, how do you feel when your mostly Buddhist homeland makes a huge fuss out of other people religion's special days?

Christmas is ok. Is only the shops with the Christmas tree and sing jingle bells. 

No problem. 

 

In the south we have Muslim festival also. Up to them. 

A lot of foreigner like Christmas. Up to them.

 

 

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Does that not all look somehow strange to you?

No

 

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Do you like it?

Yes is ok. 

At university we had some Christians come and try to make us be Christians. I not really like that. But they fail, nobody change. 

[Yinn]

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

Yes, it should be called Coca Cola holiday. That's who designed Santa that awful red and white outfit...

Really? True?

[Yinn]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO it should not be a holiday in Thailand because Buddhists don't believe in Jesus.

Christmas is not the holiday in Thailand.

But if the government say it will be a holiday, I will be happy.

[thaipo7]

This is why I am here.  To get away from the holidays.  Sorry, just don't like them.  Don't want to send or receive cards either.  Christmas is the birth of Christ Jesus.

[murraynz]

Amazing replies, mostly from misery guts .. How sad.. Cheer up guys...   How about giving to a local kids charity.. Maybe that would help to give you some Xmas spirit. 

Even a good night out with bar girls, may help to cheer you up..

Merry Xmas 

[allanos]

Many people (Christians) see it as a religious festival, and that is their right, if they have sufficient belief and faith in a person about whom there is absolutely no historical evidence for his existence.  

 

It was some 300 years after Jesus' supposed birth that the politically-astute Constantine I cleverly harmonised the Christian faith with the worship of Pagan gods, to celebrate a long-held Pagan festival on 25th December as the Christ's birthday. 

 

Less sanctimoniously, for the non-religious, Christmas and the festive season is a great time of year, to be with loved ones, exchange gifts, remember friends, some departed,  and bask in a relaxed, holiday spirit for a few days. There's nothing like it in the western tradition, and, fortunately, it has, in modern times, lost much of its, often hypocritical, religious overtones.

[Tony125]

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

Really? True?

First to answer your question I do not miss family and friends because I keep in contact with them all the time and some visit me here. Also some of us are old ,many friends and family are gone.  As far as Coca Cola desighning Santa Claus ---partially.  Based on Saint Nicholas who wore red robe and white beard, Pic below  Coke modernizedthe figure since adds from 1920;s and especially after 1931

 

It's not a Holidy ( Holy Day ) in Japan but they have a big Christmas celebration give gifts/decorate  and go out to KFC for dinner.

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/five-things-you-never-knew-about-santa-claus-and-coca-cola

 

 

Edited December 21, 2019 by Tony125

[Jaxxper]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:.

I never know if I should laugh or get angry when I see huge Christmas trees in front of shopping malls in Thailand in November. Shopping, shopping shopping - what a crazy season.

Saw my first Christmas tree of the year in October in the UK. November’s late 555

[bignbad]

Not a holiday in the middle east either, but one of the best Christmas periods I have had was in Bahrain.

So Chill and have a good time

[orchis]

no. but other people celebrating also doesn't disturb me. i will be in bangkok with friends, they're here for business

Edited December 21, 2019 by orchis

[Tarteso]

That's right, I especially remember those who are no longer in this world. The rest are in Whatsaap... and online ????

[ChipButty]

Thai's dont celebrate Christmas they just take advantage of it "MONEY"

[Moonlover]

27 minutes ago, bignbad said:

Not a holiday in the middle east either, but one of the best Christmas periods I have had was in Bahrain.

So Chill and have a good time

The best Christmas' I had were in Saudi Arabia. No pressure or compulsion to do anything, unless one wanted to. We did celebrate Christmas, sort of, but we did our way which was often highly unconventional.

 

I hated Christmas in the UK. I'm probably the worlds worst present buyer and would go through weeks of anguish and panic over that one issue.

 

I'm quite comfortable with the low key Christmas of an Issan village, where the only Christmas tree is the one in our gazebo. And my Buddhist wife bought that!

[Thingamabob]

No. I never liked the Christmas and New Year season in the West anyway, so I'm happy to be in Thailand. Christmas intrudes here, silly music in the shops etc., but nothing like to the same extent.

[BritManToo]

My family are Thai, we don't do Xmas.

About the only 'special Xmas event' for me will be making & eating mince pies.

The kids will probably be at school/university on Xmas and Boxing Day, same as any other day.

Edited December 21, 2019 by BritManToo

[SkyFax]

hey Yinn wanna have some Christmas fun watch this movie

 

[YITB1980]

I'm not going back this year. Maybe next year.

[richard_smith237]

Very much so....  My Wife, Son and I visit family twice per year, at Christmas and in the Summer. 

In the past the only time  I have not made it back to the UK for Christmas was when all the UK family came over to Thailand for my Wedding and another Christmas when our Son was born in December, I've not missed a Christmas in the UK since, with the exception of this year.

 

It saddens me that this year, due to work commitments I am away and unable to give my son the Magical Christmas experience I grew up with. We would otherwise be having a large Christmas with his Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and Cousins - it's a wonderful time of the year. 

 

We'll make it up with a lovely trip to the snow in Japan, but its not quite the same as spending Christmas and enjoying those close family bonds.

 

Christmas, along with our Summer trips is a time I get to catch up with many of my close old school friends, thus when I don't get a chance to visit the UK its with a sense of disappointment. That said I also have a strong group of friends in Thailand (Western and Thai), my Wife's family are also extremely close. 

 

Thus: Yes, I do miss family and friends, which is why I always make continued effort to keep in touch and visit whenever possible. I value trusted family and friendship very highly.

 

Edited December 21, 2019 by richard_smith237