PHNOM PENH, 25 December 2012 (The Cambodia Herald) - Like China, Japan, Laos, Taiwan and
Vietnam, Cambodia does not recognize Christmas as a public holiday.
But that doesn't stop young Cambodians celebrating the holiday in Phnom Penh, where Christmas trees with lights are increasingly seen on the streets in December.
Phouy Ngim, a teacher of English at a private school, said she celebrates Christmas every year.
"I observe Christmas because it’s the birthday of Jesus who's the biggest god in this world. I exchange a lot of presents and make a lot of friends," she said.
Srey Ka, a second year law student, said Christmas was "different" from Khmer ceremonies. "I really like Christmas because it’s a lot of fun," she said.
But Sochea, an employee of a private company, expressed concern. "It’s not a traditional Khmer ceremony," he said. "If we continue such ceremonies, it will affect our generation someday."
But that doesn't stop young Cambodians celebrating the holiday in Phnom Penh, where Christmas trees with lights are increasingly seen on the streets in December.
Phouy Ngim, a teacher of English at a private school, said she celebrates Christmas every year.
"I observe Christmas because it’s the birthday of Jesus who's the biggest god in this world. I exchange a lot of presents and make a lot of friends," she said.
Srey Ka, a second year law student, said Christmas was "different" from Khmer ceremonies. "I really like Christmas because it’s a lot of fun," she said.
But Sochea, an employee of a private company, expressed concern. "It’s not a traditional Khmer ceremony," he said. "If we continue such ceremonies, it will affect our generation someday."
5 comments:
Yes where is cultural police? Why don't they stop this cultures'invasion from westerner culture? Remember Khat Sokhim worn Indain's cloth in wedding reception and got critising for cultural hybrid or promoted Indian culture? Wow! This is a big problems for cultural hybrid police in Nambodia playing a role of double standard of Cpp thugist regime Hun Cent today.What's a joke!...Intact,Indian culture is very close to Khmer than westerner's culture believe way of life...They all mixes up they don't understand what they are doing by putting up Christmas tree in public to celebrate in the Buddhas' land.Bible says;thou shall have no other Gods before me but if you mixes up Buddha with Chris you break the commandment of Christ,you can only serve one boss if you serve two boss you will faithful to none!....
Yobal Khmer
Only a dumby says Jesus is the best or biggest God of all,
not even Buddha, Mohammad or any other Gods for that matter.
God or Gods only exist in your mind !!!
I respect people's belief and their religion, but to say that Jesus is "the biggest god in the world" is pure ignorance. I live in the West, I do not celebrate Christmas like the Westerners but I observe it as a public holiday. I still celebrate Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben.
11:01 PM and
11:13 PM,
WE agree.
Ignorance shows itself in different shapes and forms.
Yeah right! Where is culture enforcement that critising for Indians'clothes critic? Why Christmas tree in public in buddah's land? Is that culture enforcement of 2013 of Cpp Hun shit's thugs? What's contradiction!?
Kapyuon
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