Christmas in China
2015-12-25
As a Christian man, a husband, and a father, Christmas holds a great deal of significance for me. Being nearly 60 years old I have lots of Christmases to look back on. Family traditions, western traditions, etc. are pretty deeply ingrained at this point in my life. But as a foreigner in China, Christmas is a bit different these days. Not better, not worse, but definitely different.Of course it's a much lower key holiday here, at least from my perspective and in the small city where I live. Of course Santa Claus and "Merry Christmas" appear in many shops. Traditional Christmas music is playing in the shopping centers. Lots of my English students know a verse or two of a couple of well-known Christmas carols. But overall, outside of the churches, the whole concept of Christmas seems a little bit forced, not really embraced by most people.
But I'm not complaining. I don't miss the commercial trappings and the buying frenzy that grips the US. The pressure to buy, the dilution of the meaning of the day, the emphasis on "receiving" that some kids learn early in life. I don't miss those aspects at all. The quiet family Christmas season that we enjoy here, with a few local friends, let's us keep our focus where it belongs, celebrating the birth of Christ, sharing what we have, and showing our love to those around us.
The one thing I do miss is the frequent "Merry Christmas" greetings from friends and strangers alike. So whether you celebrate Christmas or not, allow me to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! God bless you in the coming year!
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