Christmas in Sri Lanka

Christmas in Sri Lanka 2012

Creche made by University students

Christmas this year was definately not like being at home. Christmas is celebrated here even though only about 10% of the people are Christians. But it is a very different experience than we have ever had.


One of the students I work with is a member of the University Christian Group, and they put on a caroling program at the University. They went all out and built a 6'x6' creche with real grass and palm woven thatched roof to promote the event.

Buddhist Monk watching the Christmas program

As usual the dignitaries attended, which included us and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, two monks, two priests, six nuns and a couple of deans. Loved the multicultural aspect. Of the 20 carols they sang, we only recognized two - Silent Night and Feliz Navidad. They must have their own song writers here. The priest, after telling us all about Easter, sang a solo in a beautiful operatic voice that was the highlight of the music.

Dancing Santa

We were all served juice and treats in our seats by tray-toting  students and then the big finale... a very skinny Santa with a rather scary white bearded mask came dancing down the isle to the sound track of Jingle Bells, throwing candy to all. It was quite a delightful evening.

On Christmas Eve we were invited to a dinner at a very up-scale ayurvedic resort. It did not seem like we were in Sri Lanka but were transported to a Monterey, California spa.The grounds were magical with art deco Christmas trees all lit in white, bridges and curving walkways that led up to the restaurant adorned in red and green table linens and fancy hand-made menus. The beautifully-presented buffet was bursting with exotic food of all kinds, from squid to turkey to pomegranate salads to real cheese. It was an amazing feast topped off by another Santa who danced with us all to Gangnam Style and Dancing Queen.

Christmas Eve at an Ayurvedic Restaurant

Another Dancing Santa

Christmas Day on the beach

On Christmas day we had a lovely walk on our beach and a swim with the surfers who flock here from Australia.



We ended the holiday with popcorn and rambutan, a sweet Sri Lankan fruit.

Life is good.

Popcorn and crab apple drinks

Rambutan