Where to celebrate Christmas in Thailand ?

Oh oh oh … Christmas is coming and you may be wondering where to go in Thailand to find the spirit of Christmas whether it’s religious or just festive. Here are some suggestions that are far from being exhaustive. Year after year Chistmas usually only celebrated by the Christian community in the country, is more and more present in Thaialnd, since the shopping malls have seen there a good opportunity to create anew event.

A traditional Christmas in Chanthaburi

When I think of Christmas in Thailand, I first think of the small town of Chanthaburi and its magnificent cathedral. If benne there for Christmas 4 years ago and keep a nice souvenir from it.

The celebration of the catholic inhabitants of the city gradually became the “Chanthaburi Miracle Christmas”.

On the program: midnight mass and Christmas celebrations with bright decorations and a large Christmas tree (well it looks like a Christmas tree but it’s not a real tree like most Christmas trees in Thailand), 3D animation at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the place of most of the Christmas celebrations and events.

This is a great opportunity to go to Chanthaburi , a city little known by tourists 4 hours drive from Bangkok. Personally, I enjoyed my short stay there and hope to return soon (info on Chanthaburi here).

It is an interesting stopover between Bangkok and the islands of Koh Chang, Koh Kood or Koh Mak for example.

Sakon Nakhon Christmas parade

The other big Christmas rendezvous in Thailand is Sakon Nakhon’s Christmas parade .
This province in Isan (Northeastern Thailand) that usually does not attract tourist organizes the Sakhon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade Festival (21 – 25 December) a parade that includes more than 200 tanks including one with … Santa Claus, of course.

Visitors are invited to join the parade and walk with their star around the church. The parade takes place on December 25th from 6pm.

There is also the play of the birth of Jesus, choruses, a star-making demonstration. And visitors can also take the tram to visit the village of Tha Rae and see the old colonial-style building whose architecture is influenced by French.

For more information, you can call 042 751 440

Christmas in Loei province

The province of Loei organizes the Phu Reua Christmas Tree Festival (until 31 January). Loei Province is the largest producer of poinsettia, Christmas flowers in Thailand. Nearly 100,000 plants of poinsettias are cultivated on 5 rai at Phu Rua, giving the provincial authorities a good reason to organize the Christmas tree festival which is actually the poinsettia festival.

Held at the entrance to Phu Rua National Park, the event allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful weather and stroll through the beautiful red poinsettia leaves. At night, lanterns are lit to celebrate Christmas.

For more information, contact the Loei TAT office at + 66 (0) 4281 2812 or +66 (0) 4281 1405

Christmas in Bangkok

In Bangkok, this year, there are several spectacular Christmas illuminations beginning with those at Central World which each year a pretty fairy Christmas lightening outside the mall.
This year, in Bangkok, there is also the magnificent Thailand Illuminations festival.
Christmas illuminations of Central World in Bangkok

Christmas on a volcano

This event is not related to Christmas but Buriram Volcano Festival will take place on December 23 and 24, so at Christmas time. No Santa Claus and no Christmas tree but a great sound and light show and pretty lightenings.

All the details about the Buriram Volcano Festival are here.

And of course, in general, you will find Christmas decorations and celebrations in and around the catholic churches in Thailand.