Thailand embraced the Christmas spirit with festive celebrations across the country, featuring everything from elephant parades dressed as Santa Claus to traditional star processions, Dec 25.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya hosted a grand Christmas and New Year celebration, decorating the garden with tens of thousands of flowers.
The garden also featured displays of sacred figures such as Ganesha, Guan Yin, and Phra Sangkajayana. The highlight was a parade of elephants dressed in Santa Claus costumes, accompanied by performers in Santa and Santy outfits. As a special promotion, the garden offered free admission for those born in January.
In Ayutthaya province, the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal organized a special Christmas gift-giving event for students at Jirasart Wittaya School. Elephants adorned in “Santa Claus” costumes delivered presents to the children.
Young Santas also participated in the event, distributing gifts and treats, and showcasing elephant performances that brought joy and laughter to the students. This activity is an annual collaboration between the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal and Jiraprasat Wittaya School.
In Sakon Nakhon province, the St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Tha Rae, known as the largest Catholic community in Thailand, held its annual Christmas star procession.
This year’s event, themed “The Charm of Colors, the Festival of Faith,” featured over 30 star-adorned floats from the community, decorated with lights and artistic designs.
The procession moved through the streets of Tha Rae, with houses along the route also decorated with lights, creating a spectacle for hundreds of thousands of Thai and foreign tourists.
At Don Koen Public Park in Tha Rae, located on the banks of Nong Han Lake, a waterborne star procession took place.
Star-shaped rafts depicting the story of Jesus were accompanied by smaller star-adorned boats, passing by a central stage featuring local cultural performances.
The “star” is believed to symbolize the arrival of Jesus Christ on Earth. (TNA)
