A Cambodian Christmas

In this special holiday episode of Keeping Up With Khmer Maine, host Marpheen Chann reflects on how many Cambodian American families have come to celebrate Christmas since resettling in the United States. Blending personal storytelling with cultural reflection, Marpheen shares an extended excerpt from his memoir, Moon in Full, recalling his first American Christmas growing up in Maine and the complicated journey of identity, belonging, and becoming.

This episode explores how Cambodian American families honor tradition while embracing something new—gathering around tables filled with lobster, hot pot, and rice; centering elders and family; and finding warmth without forgetting history. It’s a story about perseverance, community, and how America grows not through assimilation, but through countless small acts of expansion.

A reflection on joy, struggle, and what it means to make room for one another—especially during the holidays.