Mulled Wine

The Sunday before Christmas once again found me enjoying one of my favorite Bangkok Christmas traditions- the Carol Service at Christ Church, the city's historic Anglican church and chief bastion of English culture in the heart of Thailand.

Christ Church

The service began at dusk on Sunday evening. After many songs and several readings, the candles were lit. The congregation filed outside to sing Silent Night by candlelight to Bangkok.

singing carols

Every year the candlelight singing draws quite a crowd in one of Bangkok's more tourist-heavy districts, and last night was no exception. I suppose it is quite strange to see a crowd of (mostly) farangs standing around outside in the 80-degree heat singing Christmas carols by candlelight in one of the more touristy areas of Thailand's biggest city. Christchurch is a sanctuary of calm and peace in the chaos of Bangkok.

candlelight carols

Then, of course, it was time for the mulled wine and the mince pies, a rather British tradition that the congregation of Christ Church has carried on over to Bangkok.

mince pies and mulled wine

The season really is here! I'm so excited for Christmas, though I do miss being home during the holidays. I've got two weeks of work, then it'll be time for the New Year holiday! I have a few more fun things before the end of the year when a good friend visits from the USA too.

This weekend I'll take my annual Christmas walk to look at all the trees and lights up in downtown!

tree at Christ Church