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Published: February 26th 2009
It was a great week to be in the camp. As Thailand is a Buddhist country and Mae Sot has a large Muslim population it just did not feel like December or the Christmas season. However, the majority of the Karen population at Umpiem camp are devout Christians, very religious and this is an extremely important occasion for them.
On the first night of our stay Bee and I could hear music and singing long into the night. We later discovered groups were singing Christmas carols around the camp so the next night we took a guide and followed a group while they sang at people’s homes. I really enjoyed seeing families getting into the true spirit of Christmas - the religious significance and importance of togetherness. Over the next couple of nights we had visits by various carol groups singing at the front door of our guesthouse. It did not make me feel like I was missing out on too much back at home as I was sharing something very special with families in the camp.
On the last night of our stay the Burmese community held a Christmas concert. Many of the young women performed traditional Burmese
dances including performances by the boys. There were hundreds of families all rugged up in their blankets watching the concert and market stalls selling food. I was amazed to see so many children, especially braving the icy cold night. I think the families were equally as fascinated with Bee’s and my presence as we were with the concert.
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The first Christmas carol group to sing at our guesthouse
