HAVE A MERRY TROPICAL CHRISTMASSY TIME !
HOW MALAYSIANS CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE TIME OF THE YEAR AND HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT – IN A TRUE MALAYSIA BOLEH SPIRIT.
In Malaysia, Christmas is celebrated by a significant portion of the population, particularly among the Christian community. While Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, it is known for its cultural and religious diversity, with sizable populations of Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians.
Christian Malaysians attend special church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The services often include prayers, carol singing, and the retelling of the Christmas story. Many urban areas, especially in cities like Kuala Lumpur, are decorated with Christmas lights and decorations. Shopping malls, streets, and public spaces may be adorned with festive displays.
Like in many other countries, Christmas trees are a common sight in homes and public spaces. They are decorated with ornaments, lights, and sometimes topped with a star. Gift-giving is a popular tradition during Christmas in Malaysia. Families and friends exchange presents as a symbol of love and goodwill.
Christmas is a time for feasting and enjoying special meals. Malaysian Christians often have a festive meal on Christmas Day, which may include traditional dishes as well as internat
ional Christmas fare.
Some communities organize events and activities to celebrate Christmas. This could include Christmas bazaars, concerts, and charity events.
In the spirit of Malaysia’s multicultural society, it is not uncommon for people of different faiths toinvite friends and neighbors to their homes during the festive season. This practice is known as an “open house,” where people of various backgrounds come together to celebrate and share in the joy of the season.
Christmas Day (25th) is a national public holiday.
All of the public schools have a holiday break that week, so the whole country has an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit. Malaysia truly goes all out when it comes to celebrating Christmas!
Special Restaurant Menus
Many restaurants have seasonal menus throughout the year. And they create special Christmas menus just for customers in Malaysia in December. Christmas Eve is a big day for going to restaurants, having Christmas parties, and celebrating Christmas in groups. Western food restaurants that cater to expats and foreigners often have special dinners on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Some hotels even have Christmas dinner KL menus that are booked weeks in advance! They aren’t generally very expensive either because they are competing with each other to attract the same, small group of people.
Giving Back
The Christmas season is a great time to give back to those less fortunate, whether it be through volunteering, donating money or goods, or simply showing a little extra kindness to people you encounter in your day-to-day life. It’s easy to get caught up in the materialism of Christmas, but taking a step back and giving to others is one of the most rewarding things you can do during this time of year.