Christmas in China

[ameriken]

I know its a little late (or early) in the year to be talking about Christmas, but we were just reminiscing about my December-January trip to Shanghai. When I got there, instead of seeing a culture steeped in 5000 years of history, I saw............Santa Claus!

 

Yes, Christmas lights, Christmas sales, Noels, etc.

 

I should clarify, it was all businesses that had these.

 

Something didnt feel right about it. On the one hand we get on a bus to go visit an old and famous Chinese Temple, and on the other, we come back, and when we get off the bus we see the likeness of Jolly Ol' St Nick.

 

I thought maybe it was just Shanghai, because it has a good western influence there, but when we went to Hangzhou, it was the same thing. On the edge of Westlake, a beautiful lake steeped in Chinese history and culture, we have a photo taken in front of a giant Christmas tree.

 

I know the advance of western culture can have its positives, but Christmas? Jie tells me that most people she knows really dont understand Christmas. They know it is a Western celebration that has similar presence in the US as Chinese New Year in China. But, they have no idea what to do with it, or why. Even in America, Christmas can be confusing to some.....it has both a secular side to it (buying presents, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, etc) and a religious side of it (birth of Christ, midnight mass, etc). While there is a presence of Christianity as a religion in China, Buddhism is still the staple of the country. So, whats a Chinese person to do with it? Is it just a marketing move by corporations there to try and boost winter sales?

 

Christmas in China.

 

It just dont feel right.

 

Any other thoughts?

Edited May 15, 2006 by ameriken (see edit history)

[FuManChu]

Christmas is by far the most prominently displayed holiday in China. No, it is not about the Christian faith at all, and the Chinese couldn't care less about the religious connotations. Christmas as celebrated in China is an excuse to engage in many of the worst aspects of Christmas, such as commercialism, and excessive celebration. I have spent the last 4 Christmases in China, and that's all they think it is: one big party. Last year was especially bad, as Christmas fell on the weekend. Thousands of mainland Chinese fled to HK to see the "nice displays" and engage in shopping sprees.

 

To a lesser extent, this also happens during Valentine's Day.

[yuan fen]

Hi Ken,

 

I was in Shang hai in December also, and had the same impression as yours.

 

Wo de Jie and I ? Well our first " X-mas " in Shang hai was spent with my good friend Sijinzhi, son Pei , and husband Wangwei. There was a mention of Christmas, but that was it. A two second conversation. We just visited all day then went out to eat.

 

I do not remember anyone saying " Merry Christmas " , which I would think the merchants would if it were a marketing ploy.

 

Here in the US it has become " Happy Holidays " .

 

Wo de Jie is very up to date on Valentines Day, Mothers Day, I can say.

 

Ohhhhh, the ever evolving world........

 

Say " X-mas " in the Middle East? Probably the same response received twenty years ago when asked, " X-mas " in China?

[Yuanyang]

There were Santa Claus faces still up in March when I was last in Beijing. Chinese like the pretty lights and don't feel obligated to end it just because the calendar changes.

[yuan fen]

There were Santa Claus faces still up in March when I was last in Beijing.  Chinese like the pretty lights and don't feel obligated to end it just because the calendar changes. 

215217[/snapback]

Joe Hairy Legs down the street still has lights on his house in McKinney.

 

We give them a good alibi.

[LeeFisher3]

My wife really enjoyed Christmas for the last few years, but that wouldn't have anything to do with her selling more gifts at her shop before Chinese New Years.

[jim_julian]

On Christmas Eve last year we were in a night club in Chongqing. At midnight they stopped the festivities and sang Silent Night ... yep, felt a little strange.

[Dan R]

Christmas in Asia is nonreligous. Asians enjoy a good celebration and merchants promote anything that boosts gift giving and sales. Last year for the first time Christmas was nationally celebrated from Japan to Indonesia (the largest Muslim nation in the world). Of all Asian nations only the Catholic Philipines is Christian. The holiday adds to traditional Year End Celebrations and is viewed as a Western way of celebrating these (with the blessings of most businesses). Anything that boosts festivities during winter is welcomed. What can do this more than bright lights, trees indoors and a jolly white guy in a happy RED suit.

[ameriken]

Anything that boosts festivities during winter is welcomed. What can do this more than bright lights, trees indoors and a jolly white guy in a happy RED suit.

215315[/snapback]

While I agree they like the lights and festivities, when i was there, it just didnt seem like Jolly ol' St Nick really had an affect on them.

[Feathers268]

My first time in China I saw them decorating the local shopping mall. Also, the local stores had a lot for sale in the way of decorations. My favorites were the high-rise in Shanghai with "Merry Christmas" in lights on the side. My thoughts were about what would happen here if they did the same on the Transamerica building in SF and all the PC $##%$@s would come out to complain.

My favorite story though, is having lunch in a KFC in Kunshan and listening to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas"

[Randy W]

Christmas is BIG business on ANY side of the Pacific - that is why it's stretched out to before Halloween now.

[Yuanyang]

...

My thoughts were about what would happen here if they did the same on the Transamerica building in SF and all the PC $##%$@s would come out to complain....

215550[/snapback]

You got that right! The American Secular Taliban (ACLU et al) would have a field day.

[Guest blsqueaky]

I am not sure about the religious side of it for some. Rong's birthday is 12/25, and she makes it a point to tell me that she shares her birthday with Jesus. Christmans for her is a time for celebration.

 

I spent a Chistmas and new years, the new millineum in Shanghai, and personally, I found it nice, did not make me so homesick over the holidays, and also spent one in GZ, same feeling, even the food, roasted turkey, but that was on Shamian, and back then, where was the consulate located, plus the White Swan. I felt more at home celbrating it over there then I did at home, and yes, in GZ then, they did say Merry Christmas