Yes. Christmas is celebrated in China. Surprise! In fact, it is celebrated all over China, from the biggest “Westernized Cities” such as Hong Kong and Shanghai to the lowest village in the Hunan mountains. It is celebrated with vigor. With this in mind, let’s talk about a Chinese Christmas.
Firstly, American Christmas is different than a Chinese Christmas. There are many reasons for this. The big one is that Christmas is being phased out by mega-corporations. Of course, there is a big progressive anti-Christmas purge prevalent in the United States today. Thank you Barrack Obama. By the rabid success of it, you might get the impression that it is “old fashioned”, obsolete, and out-of-step with the rest of the world. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
It is Americans that are getting out of step with the rest of the world. Christmas is not only accepted, but is growing and embraced warmly. This is especially true in China, no matter what the American main-steam media wants to portray.
Christmas is just as popular as it ever has been. In fact, it’s popularity is actually expanding. Maybe not in the United States, but the rest of the world welcomes the holiday; the rituals, and the good will. Christmas is a truly popular holiday.
Today in China
Today in China, I see people putting up their artificial Christmas trees (in gold and silver colors… there are a handful of fake green trees as well.) in their business offices. In the malls, I see Chinese families picking out Christmas trees in the stores, and getting some decorations to put on their doors, windows and walls. I see grandma’s and aunties picking out big red sweaters with logos of deer and Santa Claus themes on it. I see little kids running around the toy section, while parents look at the educational toys.
In storefronts, the workers are scraping off last year’s Christmas decorations. Then washing the windows, and applying new decorations of Santa’s sleigh, Christmas trees, and a very jolly “Merry Christmas!” in big words. They place it predominantly in the very front of the windows and doors. It’s where everyone can see. It’s so that everyone can have good wishes and to bless the establishment with good will.
Differences between Western Christmas and Communist Chinese Christmas
There are differences, of course. For one, in the West (and when I mean the “West”, I generally mean America), the difference is that the Chinese consider Christmas to be the start of good-will for the year.
While, we in the West consider it just as a long holiday. So when they put up decorations, they place it there to last the entire year. This includes such things as the Christmas decorations, and to a lesser extent (even) the Christmas tree.
Malls, of course, will only have the Christmas tree up for the month. Offices, and personal homes, it could stay up all year long in certain cases.
Of course, in America, Christmas and the Christmas season lasts the month of December. Offices would take co-workers out to long lunches and have company-paid cocktails (oh, am I dating myself again? Sorry, for the dated reference.), yearly bonus checks (whoops! Another dated reference.), and of course the Christmas end-of-year blow-out party.
With the profits that have been pouring into American companies over the last two years, this most traditional of company perks, must still be alive…eh? It sure as heck better. There is no excuse for not having a Christmas party. In China, even companies that are hemorrhaging money have Christmas parties.
In Chinese Christmas parties, you will find bosses handing out “red envelopes” full of cash, and then also handing out year-end bonuses on top of the red envelopes. You will find co-workers getting drunk on grain alcohol (baijiu), beer and red wine. You will find girls getting frisky, and guys throwing up in the mens-room.
Yup. That’s China.
In China, while there will be traditions for Christmas, many are reserved for the huge celebration one month later. Those traditions are reserved for a month later for the Chinese New Year celebrations (CNY).
During CNY, it is a non-stop eating and drinking festival with enormous quantities of moonshine (Baijiu), endless huge buffets and meals, and long periods of rest spent watching sports on televisions.
What’s not to love?
Chinese Christmas Behaviors
Here, in China, companies will send out Christmas cards, though mostly it has been modernized to “e-cards” sent out through the e-mail system. Companies will deliver boxes of tea, chocolate, cookies, and fruit to companies that do business in the West. If the company doesn’t deal directly with the rest, these gifts are reserved for CNY.
People will welcome you with a hearty “Merry Christmas”, and you will see Christmas specials and new offerings in the various coffee houses and pubs.
People will welcome you with a hearty “Merry Christmas!”
For instance, the Starbuck’s alternative; Pacific Coffee, will offer a nutmeg and cinnamon coffee special that comes with a blueberry cheesecake. Chain restaurants such as Cafe de Coral will start to advertise “Christmas Holiday Platters”. You place the order and they deliver it to your house on Christmas day. (Or in the afternoon, if you have to work.) They even offer “American style menus” that are very attractive to the Chinese…
Working on Christmas
Typically, everyone works on Christmas. It’s not really considered to be a holiday worth to have the time off from. However, it is considered to be a holiday that represents the start of something.
Western firms that operate in China, of course, offer their expat staff Christmas off. The Chinese workers could care less. To them, it is a holiday, but not something that you would stay home for.
Reason for the Holiday
If you were to ask a Chinese person what Christmas represents, the answer would vary depending on who you asked. Most younger people (under 35 years of age) would answer that it was the birthday of Jesus.
Older folk would say that it is a Western holiday with many suggesting that it was used to sell products and promote good will during the Western version of CNY.
In China, the people have no qualms with Jesus, Saint Nick, Rudolf the red nosed reindeer, and Christmas trees. In fact, that is one of the most astounding things that I have noticed when I would get an American intern over a the offices during Christmas.
They would be astounded and confounded that we even would say “Merry Christmas” and not the far more bland generic emotionless version “Happy Holiday”. So, in my mind there is some kind of anti-Christmas-crusade going on in the United States today. At least in the colleges and universities.
Really! How else can you explain the American youth’s revulsion towards Christmas good will, cheer, and the exchange of presents?
Chinese Children (and adults) answer the question; Why is Christmas celebrated in the West?
“Christmas is Santa’s birthday!”
– Mao Fei’er, girl, 7, primary school student, Henan province
“It’s to celebrate the Virgin Mary giving birth to Christ.”
– Wang Mingxin, female, 19, college student, Shandong
“Because they are jealous that China has a Lunar New Year to celebrate!”
– Huang Li, male, 30, sales manager, Hunan province
“December 25 is the birthday of Jesus Christ.”
– Wu Haitao, female, 42, housewife, Shanxi province
“I don’t know… I guess because it is fun?”
– Chen Xin, male, 35, worker, Jiangxi province
“They think the birthday of Christ is December 25, so they make the day Christmas. It was recorded in The Bible.”
– Yin Xiumei, female, 60, retired teacher, Qingdao
“I don’t know… but I do know that people will have a wonderful holiday in western countries.”
– Lydia Yan, 22, female, graduate student, Guangzhou
“Because
it’s Jesus’ birthday… you know, Jesus who built up a perfect world
for the soul and welcomes any soul who comes to his world if the soul is
good and admires him.”
– Eric Fang, 23, male, graduate student, Beijing
Chinese Adults are asked; What’s your favorite Chinese tradition?
“I like the tradition of Santa giving presents.”
– Li Dong, male, 24, freelancer, Beijing
“I like the carol ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’. The first time I heard it was at a shopping mall. I was with my friends at that time and the atmosphere was very warm. I’ve liked that song since then.”
– Li Keyu, male, 21, college student, Shandong
“I like these beautiful legends, like the reindeer taking Santa to give presents to children around the world. I also heard that teachers in Finland’s kindergarten will tell children that the footprints left in the snow are from elves. That is very romantic.”
– Shen Xiaoyan, female, 33, designer, Jiangsu
“The tradition I like is to dine together with your family, colleagues, or exchange gifts and cards during Christmas.”
– Wu Xinyan, female, 37, illustrator, Hunan
“I like the scenes in movies which show families decorating Christmas tree together and preparing gifts for one another.”
– Wang Mingxin, female, 19, college student, Shandong
“Our shop will have promotional activities during the festival. As to myself, I will buy some decorative stuff and hang them to make my home warm.”
– Zheng Liren, male, 33, Taobao shop owner, Beijing
“Receiving presents from my friends, like apples.”
– Liang Pan, 23, female, employee, Beijing
“I like the red hats people wear during Christmas.”
– Huang Li, male, 30, sales manager, Hunan province
“My favorite tradition is Santa giving kids presents and the big dinner…I know Santa is a tale, which has broken a lot of kids’ hearts, but why do they let a fat man come into the house down the chimney? What if he got stuck?”
– Eric Fang, 23, male, graduate student, Beijing
What I do for Christmas, as an American Expat…
This is a good question. Typically, I only work a partial day at the office, and come in to say hi to everyone and wish them a great an merry Christmas. I also go out and take the staff out to lunch and we eat and drink some beer before we return back tot he office.
We usually have a small (ok, tiny) token Christmas tree. And at the house we do sing Christmas songs while we drink red wine or egg nog. I also get on skype and call distant friends and relatives. The dog gets a special meal, and we spend extra time letting him vacuum up all the smells outside.
We don’t usually buy presents, but we do eat a lot, and the traditional meal is usual a chicken or a ham, or a spread. Turkey is nearly impossible to procure out here.
Christmas Presents from China
I have collected and sent some presents to friends and relatives in the States from China. As strange as it seems, they are not interested in things like household appliances, or the latest gizmo out of Shenzhen. Instead, it is a reproduction of a Mao-era utility bag with a political slogan; SERVE THE PEOPLE.
I guess that Donald’s Trump slogan “Make America Great Again” is in line with this. The governments role is to serve the people.
Chinese Christmas Parties
The Chinese treat Christmas differently than we do in the West. Thus the reason for my rather quiet and subdued Christmas celebrations.
The Chinese people are more likely to hold grand Christmas parties rather than a family-get-together on Christmas Day. The Christmas parties are usually held in big hotels, plazas and in pubs and bars. It has been my experience that many expat parties are held in expat bars, while most native Chinese tend to celebrate in a favorite restaurant where they rent out a back room to party in. They also tend to have them after work hours, as people still work on Christmas day.
They are of various kinds of parties. Some are simple affairs, while others tend to be quite elaborate, with performances, balls, and cocktail parties. Usually there is always an appearance of old Saint Nick, often attended by some very pretty female elves. Oh baby!
Yupper. That is most certainly China.
Express Goodwill and Philanthropy
Chinese Christmas Day is also an occasion to share goodwill and be generous to people in need like orphans, lonely old people, the sick and homeless people. Many Chinese people will bring gifts to orphanage, Old People’s Home and hospitals to encourage these people. Which pretty much differs from what you would see in the States.
Here is a Christmas drive for presents and clothing for children on Christmas. In the United States, we tend to call these events “Toys for Tots”. Well, they have them in China also. Bet ya didn’t know that?
In China, Christmas marks a special time where a person can repent from their past mistakes and devote themselves towards good deeds that benefit the community and others in need.
I have never participated in this ritual, but all my in-laws do. They feel that it is their duty to their ancestors, and to be a good person and a good citizen. They sweep the tomb, burn incense at the temple, and give donations to causes from poor people to homeless dogs and cats.
Most Christmas Decorations come from China.
Ever wondered where all those shiny and glittery plastic Christmas decorations come from? Nope, neither have I.
They are made in China. Apparently, according to an expose by The Guardian, most are produced inside the Chinese village of Yiwu. Of course, a “village” by Chinese standards is the size of a city, by American standards. There, in Yiwu, 600 factories produce 60 percent of all of the world’s festive decorations. This mini city is divided into five districts and one of them is devoted entirely to making Christmas ornaments.
Once made, the decorations are packaged up and transported to the Yiwu International Trade Market, aka China Commodity City, which has been described by some foreigners as a “4 km sq wonder-world of plastic tat”. This is the place where many of the world’s traders get their stock—everything from inflatable toys to artificial Christmas trees. This metropolis of global consumerism was described by the UN as the “largest small commodity wholesale market in the world”.
Hum. It sounds to me like a great opportunity for an enterprising young American businessman. Eh?
How Christmas is celebrated in Communist Russia
Only in America have the progressive socialist leftists managed to suppress Christmas. The rest of the world celebrates it. Yes. Not only in Communist China, but in Communist Russia as well.
Father Frost didn’t drop presents off for Russian children on Dec. 25. And he won’t on Orthodox Christmas (Jan. 7), either. Rather, Ded Moroz and his lovely snow maiden assistant, Snegurochka, are attached to New Year’s Eve, which in Russia is the new year and the secular bits of Christmas like trees and presents all rolled into one.
Initially, the Soviets tried to replace Christmas with a more appropriate komsomol (youth communist league) related holiday, but, shockingly, this did not take. And by 1928 they had banned Christmas entirely, and Dec. 25 was a normal working day.
Then, in 1935, Josef Stalin decided, between the great famine and the Great Terror, to return a celebratory tree to Soviet children. But Soviet leaders linked the tree not to religious Christmas celebrations, but to a secular new year, which, future-oriented as it was, matched up nicely with Soviet ideology.
Ded Moroz was brought back. He found a snow maid from folktales to provide his lovely assistant, Snegurochka. The blue, seven-pointed star that sat atop the imperial trees was replaced with a red, five-pointed star, like the one on Soviet insignia. It became a civic, celebratory holiday, one that was ritually emphasized by the ticking of the clock, champagne, the hymn of the Soviet Union, the exchange of gifts, and big parties.
Christmas itself was reinstated 25 years ago, in 1991. And it is indeed celebrated by religious (and even pseudo-religious) Russians. But the big celebrations are still reserved for New Year’s Eve.
“The New Year has become so ingrained in the society,” says Izmirlieva, “it is unifying.” Plus, “It’s for those who are not Christian, those who are anti-Christian, or members of other religions. It is still very strong.
-Read more at foreignpolicy.com ...
Conclusion
Christmas is celebrated in China. It is, however, celebrated differently than it is in the United States. Where today, many American companies have “Diversity Officers” who will clamp down on saying the word “Christmas” and “Merry Christmas”, the Chinese will happily give the traditional greetings and festive blessings to everyone.
I personally think that the progressive rewriting of Christmas is sad and dangerous. When you bleed away color, passion, and purpose, all you have left is a dull and valueless life. One more deserving of burka clad (barefoot and pregnant) women from the middle east.
To which, I will give a very Chinese Merry Christmas blessing to the reader, and I offer my sincerest hope that you get to spend the holiday with friends and loved ones. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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