The Christmas Bazaar at the Scandinavian Church on Sukhumvit Soi 33 in Bangkok was more crowded this year than ever. The family day on Sunday 27 November started with a traditional 1st of Advent Service by Vicar Lennart Hamark expanded with full participation of the choir. Already at this point it was difficult to find an empty seat.
Airi Hirvonen was one of the many participants who visited the Church and the Bazaar for the first time.
“I have just has been here in Bangkok for five months and this event could be nice chance to celebrate the festival and meet friends at the same time,” she said.
The Bazaar was officially opened by Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafstrom. But the day also saw the official opening of the newly renovated playground. As this was on the initiative of the Danish Women’s Network, the opening of the playground was performed by Danish Ambassador Ulrik Helweg-Larsen.
Having cut the red and white ribbon, the Ambassador also tested that the slide was safe and strong enough to carry even a foreign ministerial heavy weight like him self to the big applause of the participants.
The bazaar itself was also an improvement upon last year’s event. The selection of handmade Christmas decorations was larger and in particular there were more other Christmas gift items worth shopping for on the tables under the tent in the garden of the church – all donated for the good cause.
Excellent food crowned the event: Open sandwiches with frikadeller and cheese, aebleskiver and hotddogs and soft drinks, beer and hot and spice glogg.
Monica Moller, one of the regular guests at the bazaar for the past many years, said that the food is what she likes most about the bazaar and that this is what makes her come back year after year.
Miraculously, genuine Scandinavian Christmas mood once again came to tropical Bangkok!
