A Lahu Christmas Story

Last night, Christmas Eve, Pun Pun resident Pi Jeni's entire hill tribe village came over for Christmas caroling. The Lahu, like many hill tribes, are Christians. They were converted by missionaries so long ago that no one can remember not being Christian -- I'm guessing at least 150 years (?)

The Lahu have their own dialect and most do not speak Thai, so Pi Jeni had to translate Lahu to Thai, which Pi Jo then translated to English for us Westerners.

We sang songs from their Christian songbook -- it resembles a Hymnal with the lyrics transliterated to Roman script. So we sang along with them Silent Night, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, and other Christmastime favorites in their dialect to the familiar tunes. Then the young Lahu girls, in their traditional dress, did some song and dance and interpretive hand motions for us -- they were so cute!


After the singing we all shook hands and the Lahu left to continue caroling around the village.