I wasn't sure what to expect out of Christmas in China - the pendulum could have swung both ways but it seems that it has rocked itself into a tizzy and both extremes have found home here. I mean, do the Chinese celebrate Christmas in China? Well, the answer to this question is both YES and NO. In China, it's mainly Christians who celebrate Christmas, although the commercial aspect of the holiday is spreading. For everyone else, the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the big event of the season.
Of course different cities celebrate differently; Hong Kong for example was a British colony until 1983 and this had a large impact on the cultural uniform of the city – Christmas is celebrated (in varying degrees) by a large percentage of Chinese there. Shanghai so far shows an appreciation for the commercial aspects of the holiday and I’ve seen most of the western additions of the city adopt the Christmas attire, whether it’s having a big Christmas tree or just a few snowflakes on the windows.
All in all, I’ve enjoyed and appreciated all attempts. Here are a few examples.
Louis doing a good job with the lights.
A fantastic "Christmas Carnival" tree right downtown.
I love this one. The next day that 'A' was missing.
A more modest approach in a cafe on the pedestrian street.
A beautiful card from one of my Grade ones. Adorable!
I start teaching Christmas this week with my kids. Will keep you updated.
Love!
Xox
