Salina Christmas

A maritime district in the north of Perak, a northern state of Peninsula Malaysia. The name’s derived from the Malay words setia kawan (faithful friend). It was said that a long time ago, a herd of elephants waded through a river within the district. A female elephant got stuck in the mud, as the tide was rising. Its male partner stood by her, refusing to leave, even as they were engulfed by water. They eventually drowned. The villagers who witnessed the event were so moved that they called the area Kampung Gajah Mati (the village of dead elephants). Later, it was called Setia Kawan. Years later, the words were shortened to become Sitiawan. Modern Sitiawan is within the same district as Beruas, a town that was once under the ancient city of Gangga Negara, and part of the Ancient Kedah kingdom that existed between 100 CE to 1400 CE.