Christmas in Penang: A Multi-cultural Celebration

Last Updated on February 21, 2023 by Kirsten Raccuia

Christmas For a Jew in Muslim Malaysia

When we told people we were moving to Malaysia; they thought we were crazy. Here is how the rest of that convo would go… Friend: “But it’s a Muslim country.” Me: “Yes, it is.” Friend: But it’s a Muslim country. Aren’t you afraid?” Me: Of Muslims? No. After they rolled their eyes… Friend: “Of being Jewish there?” Me: “Being a Jew there isn’t illegal, nor dangerous. There is even a Jewish cemetery in the middle of town.” To this, there was always shock! Friend: A Jewish cemetery in Muslim Malaysia? No Way! Me: I know that Israel and Malaysia have a serious conflict with each other. And I don’t have to like the politics of every country I live in. After all, I am American; there is A LOT I hate about the politics there too. And that is ok. If you had to find a country where you agree with EVERYTHING politically, there would be slim pickings. I am sure America wouldn’t be on that list.

So why am I writing about Christmas in Penang? Because it’s huge here and I can. And it’s a good time to dispel some myths about religion here. If you want to learn more about The Best Festivals in Malaysia read here. But first, let me address my religious roots.

My Judaism

Yes. Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country. And yes, I am Jewish. And No. No one gives a F! Sometimes, I’m the first Jew they’ve ever met. So, with wide eyes, they ask me all sorts of questions, and being the terrible Jew that I am, I have to ask Mark, my catholic hubs, to answer them. I wasn’t raised in a very religious home. My dad died when I was eight, and we held the memorial service in our temple. Going back into that temple was a traumatic experience for me, so we just didn’t go back. I’ve been into a few temples since then but mostly for memorials or bat mitzvahs. All that to say, I’ve lost touch with some of my own religion. Shame on me. But life goes on, even without religion. At heart, I’m a Jew. Living in Penang means I get to celebrate all of the religious festivities that are present here: Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Thaipusam, Thai New Year, Christmas, and those are just a few of the big ones. I feel blessed to live in a place where I can be a part of all of those religious events. I wouldn’t have had all of those experiences in Chicago, or anywhere in the US for that matter.

Celebrations for ALL

One of the most beautiful things about Malaysia is that sort of color blindness when it comes to the celebration of holidays. I am not saying Malaysia is without racism or religious clashing because that would be a lie. But name me one country (besides a monoculture) that doesn’t have some of these problems. When it comes to a holiday in Penang, everyone celebrates everything. No, Buddhists and Muslims aren’t going to church on Christmas. But they are humming Christmas songs with their Christian friends and taking pictures with every decorated tree they can find because it’s festive.

The thing is, Christmas isn’t about religion for most people, even most Christians. It clearly, isn’t for me. So why not celebrate it for the fun of it all. Every Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu person who sees me wishes me a Merry Christmas. They assume I am Christian. And sometimes, if I am unsure of their religion, I say it back. And everyone is happy. There is no negative connotation, or people wincing, just merriment.

But there are Christians in Malaysia, right?

Yep. About 9.2% of Malaysians are Christians. Not a lot, right? Yet every mall, which is where the locals spend a lot of time, is packed with Christmas themed everything. As soon as Halloween is over (yes, they celebrate that here too), the Christmas songs start making their way into the elevators, the restaurants, and the malls.

Every sparkly or red dress is on showcase. The shop employees wear Santa hats or reindeer antlers, sometimes over their hijabs (head coverings). I love every single thing about that, and it always brings a smile to my face. When we first moved here, I saw a girl in a hijab, wearing a Santa hat, putting up a Christmas tree, with their Chinese co-workers, at a grocery store. Jingle Bells was playing. It blew my mind! They decorate the malls with fake snow and Christmas scenes. One mall in Penang has “snow” falling from the ceiling! Kids line up to take pictures with a Chinese Santa who walks around in full regalia to the delight of the little ones.

Sounds just like the mall s in the US, right? And these kids are from all religions and races, and no one cares that Santa is Christian. To me, that represents acceptance. Not assimilation. And I love it. Sadly, we never hear about people getting along and sharing in each other’s celebrations on the news. That’s how it is in Penang. It is all about celebrating. It’s about festivities; it’s not about religion. And I love that about it. It’s not newsworthy. But it should be.

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I know you want to read more about the Pros and Cons of Expat Life in Malaysia. Or How to Be a Happy Expat. Or How to Be an Expat: Tips from the Pros?

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My Christmas in America

Even though I used to light the Hanukkah candles in Chicago. I also liked to celebrate Christmas because it’s fun and why the hell not? The year before we moved to Penang, we celebrated it with our wonderful friends Holly and Lyle. One freezing night, we put on all our winter gear, trudged down to the tree lot, and picked ourselves up a tree. We dragged it a few blocks down the middle of the street and into their apartment, where we decorated it. Not wanting to leave my Jewish roots behind, we named the tree Moisha. It was my first real Christmas tree, and she was perfect.

My Christmas in Penang

Honestly, I never thought we would celebrate Christmas in Penang. But we do, and in some ways, it is more symbolic here than in the US. Obvi, I’m not plodding through the snow to pick up a real tree. However, we have a mini Christmas tree where we hang the random ornaments that we’ve collected from our travels.

New Traditions

We have made new traditions with the people we love. The friends who have become part of our family. We have an ugly tee-shirt contest. Mark and I buy the worst shirts that are usually badly interpreted words or heinous graphics, and then friends vote. Everyone is welcome to join the contest, and we’ve had friends from around the world chime in. We also play games with friends. Hilariously naughty ones like running with a potato stuffed into your butt cheeks and depositing it in a bucket 20 feet away (Amy I’m looking at you). Or like tying pantyhose around our waists, so it looks like a third leg. Then we put an orange inside the dangling leg and swing it at another orange on the ground to bump it to the finish line. I’ve never laughed so hard! (Amy and Cheryl, I’m looking at you). And somewhere in the middle of all of the celebrations, we find quiet time at home.

Because it still doesn’t feel like Christmas without the snow, we turn the AC on really cold, wrap up in blankets, and close all the curtains. It gets just cold and dark enough that it feels a little like Chicago. Then I make a Dutch baby pancake, and we drink boozy eggnog while watching Christmas movies. This year we are going to our first Christmas lunch with 30 others at a gorgeous beachside hotel, called Lone Pine. It’s not our “normal” Christmas day event, but we are spending it with we people we love. And who knows, it might become one of our new adopted traditions.

It’s Not All About Christmas in Penang

Malaysians love any chance to celebrate. And I am never one to miss a party. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Chinese Buddhist, and you go to all the Ramadan Bazaars. Or if you are Muslim and you take a picture in front of a Christmas tree. Or your Jewish and celebrate it all. It’s about being festive, not about being religious. There is a difference. Everyone gets into the Christmas spirit. But it’s not just for Christmas. In a month, everyone will be in the Chinese New Year spirit. The malls will have taken down the Christmas scenes and replaced them with CNY ones. When that is over, they do the same for the next holiday, and the next, and the next. And I love each of them.

Malaysia and its people have taught me to be more accepting. Maybe it’s because of the diversity. Perhaps it’s because I’ve gotten softer with my old(er) age. Or maybe it’s because part of life here is enjoying the diversity that different races and religions bring to this country. But no matter what, I love Christmas in Penang, and Chinese New Year, and Ramadan. And ya know what? If they celebrated Hanukah here, I’d love that too. I guess I’m an equal opportunity reveler.

Tell me some of your Christmas traditions in the comments below?