Bring some Christmas cheer to your home with these festive ideas.
For some the countdown to Christmas is well and truly on. All things sparkly and festive have been dug out of the cupboard. For some expatriates Christmas is all about the cold, short days and gathering around the fire. Winter may have arrived in Thailand but it certainly does not compare to winter in many western countries. So how do you bring some Christmas cheer to your home?
1. Crank up the air con.
Christmas jumpers and silly attire have become an essential part of the festive season. So turn up the air con, and embrace the winter clothes to feel like you are in Greenland, the home of Father Christmas, and not the tropics.
2. Tune into some Christmas music.
Every year the golden Christmas tunes are played on repeat. Whether it is Jingle Bells, Wham or some more traditional carols, compile a play list but don’t start listening too early otherwise you will soon be bored.
3. Festive smells.
Christmas conjures up smells of mince pies, mulled wine and pine trees. You may not easily be able to source these in Thailand so opt for some scented candles or incense sticks instead. Think cinnamon, orange, and nutmeg. You could even make your own garland with dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks to dot around your home.
4. Decorate your home.
Real Christmas trees are expensive in Thailand, but there are some great artificial ones on the market. Start with decorating your tree, and then depending on you love for Christmas go one step further and spray your windows with fake snow, make a Santa’s grotto and place a wreath on your front door.
5. Make a fake fireplace.
It is not that surprising that there aren’t any (or very few) fireplaces in Thailand. But this does provide a logistical challenge for Father Christmas with waves of concerns of how exactly will he be able to deliver his presents? Fear not, you can easily construct a fake fireplace using cardboard and some creativity. Take a look at Pinterest from some ideas.
6. Go carol singing.
If you live in a condominium in Bangkok or even a compound, it is likely that there will be a great community feel. One that come together at times like Halloween or Loi Krathong. Just like trick or treating, you could team together and go carol singing with your neighbours or just use it as an excuse to have a mini-pub crawl in your building.
7. Movie marathon.
If you don’t fancy throwing a Christmas party but want to get into the festive spirit then consider having a movie night instead. Many of us have our favourite Christmas themed films whether that is Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually or the Polar Express and is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.