Top 10 Asian Countries to Celebrate Christmas

The Christmas holiday is as much about family traditions as anything else – where the holidays are spent, what food is eaten, which games are played, and what gifts are given and received. Traditions, however, can evolve; can grow into something different year to year in order to best encompass the spirit of the season as you see it.

 

For some, the evolution of the Christmas tradition has grown to include travel; and not just domestic travel – worldwide travel. While Asia may not be the first place that most travelers picture when they think of destination travel for the holidays, it may be just the thing to make Christmas something truly special. Christmas is a holiday that unites Christians around the world, and while every country may have its own way to celebrate, the spirit of it all remains the same.

The magic of Asia rests with the diversity of its countries and its people; and the celebration of Christmas is no exception. The percentage of Christians in Asia is small; but with such a tremendous populace, that small percentage still translates into millions of people celebrating Christmas. There are so many wonderful ways to celebrate Christmas in Asia; so much to explore during this beautiful time of year.

So where to start?

Here are the Top 10 Asian countries in which to celebrate Christmas:

1. India – A predominately Hindu and Muslim country, there are still over 25 million Christians in India, and Christmas is celebrated with the festive, colorful spirit that is typical of the country. Christians in India decorate mango and banana trees, hang star-shaped paper lanterns between homes, and decorate their rooftops with lit lanterns as a symbol of the light of Christ. Families celebrate Christmas by walking to Midnight Mass together – in churches that are decorated with copious numbers of red flowers – after which they feast on curries and other long-prepared foods and exchange gifts with each other. In the end, “Christmas Baba” delivers gifts to children by horse and cart.

2. China – Christmas in China is a relatively small affair, mostly celebrated privately with family and friends in the home. Those who celebrate, decorate their homes with glowing paper lanterns, and “Trees of Light” – their version of Christmas Trees. Santa Claus visits China as well and is known as “Christmas Old Man.”

3. Thailand – While most of the population of Thailand is Buddhist, you wouldn’t necessarily know it during the Christmas holiday where the Thai people celebrate with the enthusiasm for which they are so widely known. After all, Buddhists welcome any celebration of peace and love and so they, along with their Christian counterparts, will join in the festivities by decorating buildings, streets, homes, and stores with decorations and twinkling Christmas lights. Gifts are exchanged and meals are shared of traditional Thai food.

4. Philippines – The population of the Philippines is largely Catholic – one of the two Asian countries that has a Catholic majority – and so the Christmas celebration here is known as the longest in the world – as early as September through the beginning of January. There are masses held throughout the season, culminating in the traditional Midnight Mass, parties, decorations – including the traditional “pah-role,” a lighted star on top of a bamboo pole, caroling, feasts, and celebrations of many kinds.

5. East Timor – As the other Catholic country in Asia, East Timor celebrates Christmas in style. Religious considerations are first and foremost in East Timor, with Christmas church services taking center stage – along with recreations of the birth of Jesus and nativity scenes.

6. Malaysia – While Christmas is considered more commercial than religious in Malaysia, it is celebrated with excitement. There are traditionally decorated stores – complete with Christmas trees, stockings, and the like; and shopping is a big affair associated with this time of year. Christians in Malaysia – which make up about 7% of the population – celebrate Christmas with private religious observance.

7. Vietnam – In Vietnam, Christmas is a big celebration; one of four major festivals in the country. Eight to ten percent of the population in Vietnam is Christian – as a result of previous French rule of the country. Christmas today is a party from start to finish to rival any Western culture; complete with parties, Midnight Mass and huge feasts that have a decidedly French influence.

8. Japan – If anything, the Japanese embrace the commercial part of Christmas where the shopping itself is an unofficial national holiday. Presents are exchanged and people gather for meals that include the traditional “Christmas Cake” – a sponge cake with fruit topping and whipped cream. “Hoteiosho” – an old man who carries a sack of gifts – brings treats for the children if they have been good.

9. Korea – Christmas celebrations in Korea are also based around family gatherings and traditional meals which, in the case of Korea, includes traditional fare such as rice cake soup, sweet potato noodles, and barbecued beef. Santa – “Santa Haraboji” in Korea – dresses in blue and red clothes and brings gifts for children.

10. Syria – In Syria, the Christmas celebrations start with mass, held with a bonfire as a backdrop in the church. Following church services, families share meals of sweets, chicken, nuts, and oranges; and gifts are brought to children by camel, which is why children in Syria often leave out hay and water – like the cookies and milk that most Western children leave out for Santa Claus.

Christmas in Asia is beyond the norm but certainly something that can take the holiday celebration to the next level. There is so much to explore, do, see, and experience throughout Asia – having the potential to change our perspective on travel, as well as our perspective on the Christmas holiday.

Author Bio – Dillon Michaelson, the author of this guest post works for InsanelyCheapFlights.com, a leading travel portal offering cheap airline tickets on US Airways, Frontier Airlines etc., If you’re looking forward to flying on Jet Blue airlines for travelling to Las Vegas, New York, Seattle etc., do check out InsanelyCheapFlights.com today.