Christmas in Thailand and a New Thai Version of Jingle Bells

Jet sent me a Thai version of Jingle Bells that she wrote. We don’t have any Thai Christmas songs, so I thought it would be nice to post here.

Here’s the note Jet wrote to me, followed by her song, followed by explanations of some of the Thai words:

I remembered hearing an Australian version of Jingle Bells, and I found it at your website. Your Australian versions of Jingle Bells prompted my to try my hand at writing a Thai version of the song as follows; hope you like it.

To be sung to the tune of “Jingle Bells” …

MP3 of Jingle Bells on Piano

Dashing through the Soi,
Clutching at your hat
Racing with the dogs,
Chasing off stray cats.
Hoping it will be cool,
Finding out you’re wrong
Red faced and hot and dripping sweat
You have a cold beer by the khlong.

Jing-en ben, jing-en ben,
Christmas time is here,
Chicken, somtam, sticky rice,
Good friends and good cheer, oh!

Sawasdee, from us all,
Party time is near,
Sanook time, one and all,
Good friends and good cheer!

Use tuk-tuks to get around,
They have the fastest moves,
It seems they have no rules,
They go where they can.
Hang on for your life,
Question who is nuts,
They rev and weave to a fare-thee-well
You end up praying for your life!

Jing-en ben, jing-en ben,
Christmas time is here,
Chicken, somtam, sticky rice,
Good friends and good cheer, oh!
Sawasdee, from us all,
Party time is near,
Sanook time, one and all,
Good friends and good cheer!

Note:
Soi = street
Khlong = canal
Jing-en ben = the way Thai people pronounce “Jingle Bells”
Somtam = papaya salad
Sawasdee = hello
Sanook = fun
Tuk-tuk = a three wheeled open vehicle, used to get around the city

Written by Ms. Jetharee Uditananda in November 2008

I asked Jet if there are any specific Christmas time traditions in Thailand. Here’s what she wrote:

There are no specially “Thai” Christmas traditions here that I know of. Only one thing stands out; the Thais have “borrowed” the Western idea of gift giving, parties and family gatherings in the Christmas-New Year period.

Now, Thais do not only “go home” to their home towns during the Thai New Year (we call it our “Songkran” festival in April), we also take the opportunity of a few days of holiday to “go home” in the Christmas-New Year period to see relatives and loved ones.

Wishing you a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year Jet

Thanks Jet!

Finally, I found on some forums they mentioned that The Alvin and the Chipmunks album is the most popular music in Thailand at Christmastime. (You can hear clips at the link.) They also sing “Jingen Ben Jingen Ben Jingen Aun A Ray” (Jingle Bells), “Sandy Craw iss Comen to Taun” (Santa Claus is Coming to Town) and “I Deeming Ova Why Clissimus” (I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas).

Many thanks to Ms. Jetharee Uditananda for sharing her version of Jingle Bells with us and for letting us know about Christmas in Thailand. Thanks also to Dave Maddock of Project Gutenberg for the mp3 recording.

Mama Lisa

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