Chinese city bans Christmas celebrations in schools

Children dressed as angels take part in a mass on the eve of Christmas at the South Cathedral official Catholic Church in Beijing, Wednesday, Dec 24, 2014.[Photo/IC]

HANGZHOU - A city in East China has banned all Christmas activities in schools and kindergartens.

Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province said the decision is meant to guide schools in highlighting China's traditional festivals.

"No middle school, primary school or kindergarten may hold any Christmas-themed activity or celebration," said the circular issued by the city's educational authority, adding that there would be inspections on the enforcement.

The purpose of the Christmas ban is not to crack down on all Western festivals, but to reverse the schools' obsession with Western festivals at the expense of Chinese ones, said Zheng Shangzhong of the city's educational bureau.

Schools have more of an obligation to tell children the meaning of traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Lunar New Year, he said.

Celebrating Christmas has become trendy among young Chinese, who see the Christian festival as a merry time to shop, party and dine with their friends and significant others. Meanwhile, proponents of traditional Chinese culture have warned against cultural invasion.

A college at Northwest University in Shaanxi Province reportedly kept its students from joining Christmas celebrations by having them watch traditional cultural films on Christmas Eve. Its official microblog account said that Chinese traditional festivals and culture were fading away as more Chinese embrace Western traditions.