{
  "id": 8160218,
  "title": "#JOM: Christmas comes to the highlands",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/jom-christmas-comes-to-the-highlands",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T03:01:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/jom/2026/09/1535272/jom-christmas-comes-highlands"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Christmas in the Cameron Highlands of Pahang, Malaysia, is a uniquely delightful experience that blends the cool mountain air with the warmth of English tradition. The month of November sees the orchid-filled hills shrouded in mist, creating an atmosphere perfect for a touch of British Christmas.\n\nThe Cameron Highlands Resort, with its old-world charm, hosts an early Christmas Tree Lighting Weekend from November 20 to 22. This event takes the guests on a journey back in time with the Maids of Honour tart, a sweet pastry with a surprisingly rich history. Despite its name suggesting a Tudor origin, the tart has its roots in Richmond, England, and its creation is tied to the Newens family, a British bakery with generations-old traditions.\n\nCameron Highlands has a long colonial past, shaped by British settlement in the late 19th century. The area was developed as a hill station, drawing its cooler climate and eventually becoming home to tea estates and hotels. The resort itself embodies this colonial heritage, with moss-covered forests, winding roads, and colonial architecture that give it a distinctive atmosphere.\n\nBy November, the highland climate makes it feel naturally conducive to a Christmas celebration. This is evident as the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place by the resort's front porch, a spectacle of candlelit glows and carols echoing through the evening. The final act of the evening sees the tree illuminated, casting a golden glow against the night, evoking a festive charm.\n\nDespite Malaysia's tropical climate, the Cameron Highlands' misty evenings provide a cool enough setting for a proper British Christmas. The resort's evening ambience, combined with the Maids of Honour tart, afternoon tea, and colonial interiors, offers a unique blend of nostalgia and natural beauty. The result is an unforgettable blend of England and Malaysia, where 'Trails, Tales, and Tradition' converge to create a uniquely enchanting Christmas experience.",
  "summary": "THERE’S something wonderfully improbable about Christmas in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}