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Christmas in Mainland China

In China, Christmas is celebrated more as a novelty holiday rather than a strictly religious occasion. While only about 1% of China's population is Christian, Christmas celebrations have become popular in major cities where malls and streets are decorated. For China's Christians, Christmas is one of the most important holidays and is celebrated through special church services. Some common Chinese Christmas traditions include giving apples, which sounds like the word for "peace" in Mandarin, hanging paper lanterns on Christmas trees, and Santa Claus often being depicted playing a saxophone or French horn. The dinner may include traditional Chinese dishes like roast pork and dumplings rather than a Western Christmas meal.

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83 views2 pages

Christmas in Mainland China

In China, Christmas is celebrated more as a novelty holiday rather than a strictly religious occasion. While only about 1% of China's population is Christian, Christmas celebrations have become popular in major cities where malls and streets are decorated. For China's Christians, Christmas is one of the most important holidays and is celebrated through special church services. Some common Chinese Christmas traditions include giving apples, which sounds like the word for "peace" in Mandarin, hanging paper lanterns on Christmas trees, and Santa Claus often being depicted playing a saxophone or French horn. The dinner may include traditional Chinese dishes like roast pork and dumplings rather than a Western Christmas meal.

Uploaded by

Sandu Andrei
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Christmas in Mainland China 

is not a public holiday and is not related to religion at all. It's


more of a novelty day like Valentine's Day, rather than a religious celebration. But you'll still see
the malls and streets of the big cities filled with Christmas decorations, fir trees, Santa Claus
and carols

In China only one procent of the population is officialy Christian. While


most Chinese
people don't realize that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ or
attach any religious significance to the festivities, many of China's Christians
celebrate Christmas as the top event of the year, outranking even Chinese
New Year, preparing songs and activities weeks before.
Christians in China celebrate by going to special church services, which are
typically packed to capacity. On Christmas Eve, there are choral
performances, and the congregation puts on dance and drama
performances. Christmas Eve is called 'Peaceful Evening'. Carol singing in
the streets is rarely seen
In China, Santa is known as 'Sheng dan lao ren . We often see Santa mascots giving gifts or
candies to children, but in China, Santas are often shown playing the sax or French horn. There
is no known explanation for the roots of this tradition, but perhaps a sax jamming Santa playing
beautiful music appears romantic in Chinese perspective. Some people go Carol singing,
although not many people understand them or know about the Christmas Story. Jingle Bells is a
popular Christmas song in China! There are CHiniz versions of songs like we wish u a merry
christm,as jingle bells silent night and others

A tradition that's becoming popular, on Christmas Eve, is giving apples. Many stores
have apples wrapped up in colored paper for sale. People give apples on Christmas Eve
because in Chinese Christmas Eve is called "Ping'an Ye" (平安夜), meaning peaceful or
quiet evening, which has been translated from the carol 'Silent Night'. The word for
apple in Mandarin is "píngguǒ" (苹果) which sounds like the word for peace.

'

One of the most popular Chinese Christmas traditions is to hang beautiful


paper lanterns indoors, outdoors, and strung around the plastic Christmas
tree, which is called "Tree of Light". Families add paper chains and flowers in
bright, festive colors to the Christmas tree. Malls and shopping centers make it
a big affair with lights, decorations and Santa
Like American traditions, those that celebrate Christmas in China have a feast.
Rather than turkey and stuffing, the menu would look similar to a Spring
Festival fair with roast pork, jiaozi (Chinese dumplings), spring rolls, huoshao
(baked roll with or without stuffing), and rice. However, Christmas time does
offer one unique food tradition for the Chinese.

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