chinese christmas decorations

A Merry Christmas Tour In China
Executive Summary about chinese christmas by Lola Adewoyin

As the yuletide season fast approaches, people start planning their vacation trips and holidays thinking of different ideas on where and how to spend Christmas. With the typical Christmas celebration around the world being almost the same, if you want to have an unforgettable December filled with some oriental feeling, forget about the worries of the past, pack your bags and come and experience a unique Christmas celebration touring China and its many beautiful cities.

Even though the Chinese people do not celebrate Christmas like the Christians do, a small amount of people however recognize the holiday and embrace the tradition. Christians in China celebrate the season by lighting their house with brightly colored trees of lights made out of paper chains, paper lanterns and paper flowers. With the number of tourists and expatriates in the country, many Chinese cities are now decorating the stores and streets with “trees of lights” to feel the spirit of Christmas. For a group of people or family who want to tour China in Christmas, there are quite a number of places of interest and tourist attractions to see and visit.

Starting off at Hong Kong, lots of gigantic snow men and Christmas decorations are seen in big malls and stores on the island, the famous Hong Kong Disneyland is jam packed with tourists and locals from around. Moving on to Mainland China, Shanghai is The New York of China. From the old cities to the tall skyscrapers, spending Christmas on the Bund along the banks of the Huangpu River is breathtaking and fills you with admiration of Shanghai metropolis. Beijing is one of the major tourist destinations in China, therefore, spending Christmas in this beautiful city is a must. The Beijing Opera popularly known as Peking Opera which is the national opera of China depicts the real Chinese culture with its accompanying music and costumes which makes it very artistic and breathtaking. If you decide to extend your stay, experiencing the Harbin Ice festival or its opening is another memorable occasion to experience during a Christmas tour in China.

Christmas Celebrated Around the World

Executive Summary about chinese christmas by D. Halet

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas has always been represented by religious ceremonies and gifts and greetings exchange.

* The December 24th Christmas Mass; which celebrates the birth of Jesus.

* The Christmas tree, a symbol from the pagan celebration and representing life.

Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved and Christmas Eve with our family, replaced the religious ceremonies.

Here are some countries which celebrate Christmas:

Belgium: Belgians have a festival especially dedicated to children; which is Saint Nicholas (Sinter Klaas) on December 6th. In Belgium, Christmas is rather reserved for adults: the streets are decorated and illuminated, we decorate our houses, windows, gardens, Christmas trees. Belgian people visit their family on January 1st. In the Belgian Ardens, people celebrate December 31st and not Christmas.

France: Christmas is dedicated to children. French people have lots of Christmas customs: Christmas Markets, the Christmas tree, the Christmas Dinner, Christmas gifts, stories, songs, Christmas turkey, The Christmas Crib, the Yule Log, and so on. Dutch people reserve the big gifts for Christmas Time because they profit for some great bargains after Sinter Klaas.

Germany: Christmas in Germany lasts two days. Christ-Kind offers gifts to the children on December 24th families and friends. Germany has also a Saint Nicholas festival on December 6th.

Great Britain: Christmas is celebrated in England with enthusiasm. Children sing “Christmas Carols” in the streets, they eat the famous “Christmas Pudding” at the end the Christmas Dinner. In England, Santa Claus fills the English children socks with gifts. Spain: If Santa Claus has little importance in Spain (Magi distribute gifts to children on January 6th), Spanish people decorate the streets with lights during the month of December. Portugal: Christmas Eve is a holiday. If there is no Christmas tree in Portugal, there is nevertheless a “Wooden Christmas”.

Italy: Christmas lasts three days, from December 24th till 26th. The Italian Christmas dessert is “Panettone”.

The whole family is singing Christmas songs and dance around the Christmas tree.

Other European countries: In Romania, on December 24th, there is a Christmas candle burning until the morning of December 25th. In Greece the Christmas period begins on Christmas Eve and ends at the Epiphany. Christmas is less important than Easter.

American people love to celebrate Christmas and set up a decorated Christmas in their home. Canadian people decorate their house with a Christmas tree, a Christmas wrap, a Christmas Crib… After the “Midnight Mass” people have a Christmas Eve with their family. Turkey and the Christmas log are the essential ingredients of a Canadian Christmas Dinner.

South America: Peruvian people have Christmas parties but also learn to live better on christmas time. Their Christmas season lasts a full week. Mexican people celebrate Christmas with Las Posadas (pilgrimages representing the path by the Mary and Joseph). They celebrate the last Posada on the Christmas morning and then start the Christmas dinner. I Guatemala, immigrants have imported their German customs and the Christmas tree is essential but the Christmas gifts are reserved to the children. Australia: Christmas happens during the summertime, so Australian people celebrate Christmas at the beach. New Zealand: If there are few decorations, New Zealand people organize Christmas parades and people sing in the parks. They also organize their famous “Christmas barbecue”.

Japan: Christmas is merely commercial significance in Japan. China: If Christmas Day is not a holiday, Christmas is celebrated in Chinese cities. For the Chinese people who celebrate it, Christmas is a religious event.

Christmas All Over the World

Executive Summary about chinese christmas by Florin Costache

In front of the cathedrals 30-40 meter (100 feet) Christmas trees are raised. Christmas in the United Kingdom

In the UK the famous Santa Claus does not exist. Kids receive gifts from Father Christmas on the 25th of December instead of the 24th. Also, they don’t send letters to Father Christmas but they put them on the chimney or in the window in Christmas stalkings on Christmas Eve.

Christmas in China
On Christmas, chinese christians decorate their houses with paper lamps, and hang paper chains and flowers in their Christmas trees. Chinese children hang stalkings and await the visit of Old Christmas Man.

Christmas in Japan

Christmas was introduced in Japan by christian missionaries and, for a long time, it was celebrated only by the japanese christians. Due to the post belic american influence, the Japanese Christmas industries developed and the celebration became very popular.

Check out other guide on best christmas gifts.

Christmas in ChinaChina Makes Christmas for Rest of World
Executive Summary about christmas in china by  Lynn Jebbia

China is the world’s biggest manufacturer of Christmas products. Most of it comes from Shenzhen in South China’s Guangdong province.There are over 3,000 factories in Shenzhen producing artificial Christmas trees. Christmas lights, ornaments and Christmas wreaths are also made here. Before 1985 most of these products were mass produced in Taiwan and Hong Kong where the labor was cheap and ports were easily accessible. Taiwan and Hong Kong were not under the strict communist rule of China. By 1985 Taiwan and Hong Kong had developed into huge exporters and their local labor costs had increased. They started looking for a place nearby to ship materials to for assembly by cheaper workers. Consequently, Hong Kong and Taiwanese companies started producing Christmas products in Shenzhen. Worker conditions in these factories are poor. The floors are concrete and little money has been invested into proper work tables, work table height, etc. The plastic material used predominantly is PVC – polyvinyl chloride. Dioxins enter the food chain through air or water and accumulate in fatty tissues of animals and humans where they can cause cancer, damage the immune system and impair children’s development. Over time the lead in the PVC product can disintegrate into lead laced dust.

Most people purchase artificial Christmas trees and wreaths because they make less mess, they’re cheaper over time and convenient. Purchasing fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreaths is the environmentally friendly choice and it sure smells a lot better than plastic too.

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