By Luke Hunt
Across Cambodia, people are taking to Christmas and fusing yuletides with local commemorations for a week of festivities that welcome in the new year, mark the end of a 30-year war, and ensure children are rewarded for good behavior.
Christmas Day is not a holiday here, but Peace Day on Dec 29 signaling the 1998-end of this country’s devastating civil war is. So is New Year’s Day and just for good measure Jan 7, marking the end of Pol Pot’s genocide in 1979, also ranks as a national holiday.
“I am a Buddhist, but I am open-minded and have an open heart. Giving is a lovely way of expressing that,” said Vy Bol a 49-year-old tuk-tuk driver and tour guide with two children, a boy and a girl. “Christmas is the prelude for the upcoming week of holidays and World New Year.”
“I’ll work in the morning and take the afternoon off. Then we eat, open the presents and then I’ll take the kids to the fireworks. I can’t afford much, perhaps US$20 for each child but they have been good and just love opening presents.”
There are syncretic elements among different religions in Cambodia but as Ny Vannak, a 42-year-old businesswoman, explains, Christmas in Phnom Penh is “more about humanity, without any ties to any religion. Everyone seems to enjoy Christmas.”
“I have a five-year-old niece, and I see how much kids love Christmas. I took her to the market and she wanted a reindeer antler headband. I bought one for her. It’s a fun day, especially for children,” she added.
Phnom Penh and provincial cities have been decorated with trees, lights, tinsel, and baubles. Giant blow-up Santas hang from tall buildings but nativity scenes and references to the baby Jesus are rare, limited to churches and Christian services.
Christians make up less than three percent of the population, yet strip malls and street vendors are reporting brisk sales of Christmas treats.
Yi Sovandary, 55, sells Santa costumes from $5 and up at Kandal Market in the capital.
“Kids love wearing these costumes to school or class parties during Christmas,” the mother of three said. “It’s fun for them, and it helps me to earn extra income. Even though Christmas is not a part of Khmer culture, people enjoy it as a way to gather with friends and have fun.”
Her sentiments and knack for turning a dollar as the festive season approaches were matched by Mat Samey, a Muslim.
“It’s normal in Cambodia to see people celebrating Christmas and wearing festive costumes, even if they’re not Christians it’s still fun.”
Traditional Cambodian holidays mark Khmer New Year in April and the harvest season in November with the Water Festival while Christians and Muslims are free to celebrate traditional holidays such as Eid, Christmas, and Easter.
Each year, three days after Christmas, the long-ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spends heavily on reminding people that it ended the civil war 26 years ago, at memorials built around the country with parades and fireworks known as “Win-Win.”
Vy Bol says “Win-Win” is more about the politics of the CPP and ruling families but the peace and security that came with the end of war cannot be denied.
“Cambodia is also, now, very much connected with the rest of the world, and Jan 1 marks World New Year and the start of 2025. It’s as much a cause for celebration as Khmer New Year.”
“So, Christmas is the start of a week-long celebration, it’s about children, peace, and hopefully a better and more prosperous new year,” he said. – UCA News
