It is the season to be jolly… and well in Vietnam, a little perplexed. This is now my second Christmas here, and I’m convinced that this time round there are twice the amount of decorations up around the city. It’s strange, because Christmas is not really celebrated here. The big celebration is Tet, coming up end of January, however everywhere I turn I see Christmas trees, tinsel and babies dressed in Santa suites.
I understand all the shops that cater to foreigners dressing up for the occasion but not so much the rest of Hanoi. What is even more confusing is when I ask Vietnamese people what their plans are for Christmas they usually respond by saying that they will stay at home or go out with friends. For the most part, with exceptions of course Hanoians don’t seem to be too fussed about the whole thing at all. Almost to the extent that a single person could care less about Valentines day. Still, what is up with all the decorations?
Christmas time is however a time to whip out the old festive season classics… like the remixed (and o so remixed) versions of ‘Last Christmas’ and Abba’s ‘Happy New Year’. Ben and I actually heard the best one the other day while in the supermarket (on repeat), basically some strange techno version of ‘Last Christmas’ with baby sounds mixed in. So basically,
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
(goo goo gaa gaa)
But the very next day you gave it away
(insert more strange baby ‘mixed’ sounds here)
Well it’s entertaining…. The first time round.
I have come to believe that there is some kind of rule in the world floating around, that states that if a person does not have their camera at hand they will see cooler things. For example, just two days ago I was driving on Au Co when suddenly I see a cool 25 Asian Santa Clauses on bikes just cruising along like it’s no big deal, they were advertising something, but I couldn’t really tell what. Random.
Or, like the guy I saw in traffic tonight dressed up in his Santa gear, beard and all, with the words Sun Flower sewn onto the back in miss-me-not yellow. He was not the only dressed up Santa I saw driving to and from work tonight. Yes, I had to work on Christmas eve, adding to my point that it’s not a big deal here. It’s better than having to work tomorrow like some teachers I know at other schools.
Then lastly keeping with the Father Christmas theme, I have to tell you (random reader) about my very own personal Santa encounter tonight. My absolute adorable and arguably favourite Beginner class had a little surprise waiting for me in class. I was taken by the hand and led into a dark classroom, all the while promising that my eyes are in deed shut when from behind the door a man in red suites jumps on me. So cute, one of my students had dressed up as Santa to present me with the class Christmas gift. It was a rather big and heavy painting of a Vietnamese village, I think. Nevertheless, I love that they did for me, sure does help to have stories like these to tell when you’re far away from family at Christmas time.
That’s all for now, Merry Christmas dear reader and the happiest of New Years to you!
