For most Thais, the 25th of December passes much like any other day, with schools and businesses operating as usual. The festive season’s trimmings, however, are visible in shops and shopping malls. Santa hats and reindeer antlers are for sale. Yet, these decorations are often accompanied by bold “Happy New Year” signs, reflecting the common perception that Christmas is simply the foreigners New Year celebration, something colourful and Western, but not deeply understood.
Within schools, Christmas is often associated with English language learning and Western culture, but this does provide a unique opportunity for Christian outreach. Many Thai students encounter Christmas first as part of an English lesson or through cultural activities, rather than as a religious event. As a result, Christmas in Thailand is both familiar and foreign.
Christmas Parties with a Purpose
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, December brings with it a flurry of activity as OMF workers and local churches partner with schools to run Christmas parties. High schools, primary schools and even one university campus welcome these events, seeing them as fun ways to expose students to different cultures and to practise English in a lively environment.
At a typical school Christmas party, the air is filled with laughter, games, and songs—some in Thai, some in English. OMF workers, local Christians and short-term worker share the Christmas story, often using engaging visuals to communicate the heart of the gospel. Skits, games, and English language activities are common highlights, capturing the imagination of students who may be hearing about Jesus’ birth for the very first time. These events plant seeds of faith in young hearts. Many people who show an interest in the gospel as adults first heard about Jesus at an event like this.
Similar parties are also used in the local community. They are events to which friends and family can be invited and are often well attended as they are a fun free event for kids and/or a free meal for the family.
Christmas Cookies with a Message
As Christmas approaches people in the Ron Phibun community will begin to ask if there will be cookies this year or not. With the help of short-term workers the team in Ron Phibun bakes, decorates and packs over 200 bags of cookies. Each bag is distributed with a cheerful greeting, an explanation of the true meaning of Christmas and a booklet explaining further. The simple act of giving often opens the door to deeper conversations about Jesus.
More than Helping Hands
The OMF Thailand South Region located in Nakhon Si Thammarat province is looking forward to welcoming a team from New Zealand to help with the preparation and running of these events and others. The extra hands enable the OMF workers to have more and bigger events and create a buzz. The team will not only provide practical help but will show God’s love for the world in their smiles, words of encouragement and prayers for the Thai people.
Although Christmas in Thailand is often seen as a Western novelty, outreach efforts throughout Thailand will help reveal its deeper significance to the Thai people. Amidst glittering mall displays and western traditions, the true message of Christmas—God’s love for all peoples—will shine brightly this year in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
