Daily life
In Canada and the United States, you know Christmas is near when you hear Christmas Carols playing in the shopping malls and Christmas decorations and store keepers are dressed with Santa Claus outfits, usually by late November after the USA Thanksgiving Day. What about China?
Christmas is the major holiday of the Western countries and celebrated by gift giving, decorations, Christmas meals and singing Christmas carols. It started as a Christian celebration in the 1700's and was referred to "Christ's mass". It then became Christmas, and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25.
This holiday became popular as a public holiday in the United States by the late 1800's and evolved into a commercial event. From this developed a character called Father Christmas, also named Saint Nicholas and in Dutch, Sinterklaas, which the Americans Anglicized to "Santa Claus" 圣诞老人 Sheng Dan Lao Ren.
Nowadays, the religious celebrations are still held in Christian churches, holding Christmas mass and Nativity pageants commemorating the birth of Christ. But the majority of people will look to Christmas as a holiday at the end of the year, with Boxing Day as a holiday following Christmas and stretching to New Years Day, almost ten days similar to the Chinese Spring Festival. And also similar to China, businesses will basically close for this period with the exception of retailing. What about in China during Christmas?
Similar to North America, we are starting to hear Christmas carols being played in shopping malls and hotel lobbies. The idea of gift giving during Christmas is becoming popular and retailers are all for promoting Christmas sales during this period. Most of my Chinese friends do not know the origin or meaning of Christmas just that it is a holiday of Santa Claus giving gifts.
There is no holiday for North American companies operating in China. So it is business as usual, expats will likely celebrate Christmas dinners on the following weekend since December 25th falls on a Wednesday this year. Most expat children will be off for the Christmas period because the International schools observe the holiday. Most families will take advantage of this and book their vacations to return home and celebrate Christmas and New Years with their relatives and friends.
If you are an expat in China that doesn't have kids in school or do not have enough vacation to return home, this would be a good time to consider a holiday in China or within the region. You will not encounter the huge crowds of Chinese tourists that are prevalent during local holidays such as the recent National Day or upcoming Spring Festival. International holidays will promote Christmas dinners and New Years Dinners featuring gifts and prizes and some even have a guest appearance from Santa.
Traditional Christmas dinners feature a roasted turkey with stuffing, usually breadcrumbs or rice with chestnuts. The stuffing is slow cooked in the cavity of the turkey for several hours and absorbs the flavor of the turkey. Each family has its unique recipe.
Other unique Christmas dishes are cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and ginger bread cookies or ginger bread houses. I have seen all of this available in China but very seldom see Christmas pudding or plum pudding. It is a dry pudding with dried fruits and nuts preserved in brandy or rum and very sweet. Most likely because of the sweetness, this pudding is not popular in China since the Chinese palate is not as sweet as westerners. Turkey is also not regarded as preferred meat in China compared to chicken, duck or goose.
You may recall an earlier Jin Magazine article about the Jian Hua Foundation. A charitable organization with several projects in China, the largest "cluster" is in Tianjin and has over a dozen expat associates. We contacted Ms. Carol Woodward, leader of the Tianjin cluster and asked her about their operations during Christmas. (Carol is from USA and has been in China for over ten years.)
Jin: How will you personally spend this Christmas?
Carol: It is not a holiday for Jian Hua Foundation, so we will be working as usual; most of the expats are teachers and will be working. Our local church will have the usual Christmas mass and special Sunday service.
Jin: How will the staff at JianHua celebrate Christmas?
Carol: Some staff will have a Christmas dinner at home and invite colleagues, expats and local staff with families to exchange gifts and share a Christmas meal, but likely nothing too formal. Last year we had some "Christmas crackers" (a form of noise maker like firecrackers but no lighting or fireworks, just the sound) and someone brought some "British Cake" (see above description of pudding). These were brought by a colleague that just returned from England, not sure what we will have this year.
Jin: Is there anything special prepared at the offices and schools?
Carol: We will have some decorations and probably have a gift exchange between the staff. No special event will be held at the office and schools of Jian Hua but the Foundation will sponsor an annual pageant that is organized by us but will include several other organizations.
Carol is being modest, I looked at the photos and newsletter of last year's event and it was an impressive pageant performed by the students and staff of several local charity organizations, coordinated by Jian Hua Foundation. There were several different dances and performances by the children, parents and teachers. The theme last year was "We Stand Together" and the photos show a wonderful event. I know I will be there this year.
This year's event will be held Saturday December 14 at 7PM at Legend Wedding Hotel, Nan Kai Qu Cang Qiong Dao 8 Hao. The tickets are free and you can contact Jian Hua Foundation at Tel: 022-2392 6614 or email: jhf.specialkids@jhf.china.org
Jin: Thank you Carol and we wish you and the Foundation a successful event and Merry Christmas.
Carol: Thank you and Happy Holidays to Jin and all your readers.
It was obvious from our discussion that Carol has adjusted to living in China and celebrating western holidays and traditions is not a major issue. No use trying to live a way of life that may not be available here. Most of us that have been in China have accepted this or else we would not still be here.
The Chinese have a saying equivalent to our "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" It is "Ru Xiang Sui Su" 入乡随俗 literally it means "when entering a local place, follow the crowd". Good advice, so you don't try to change the world.
So although the Christmas carols started playing in October and usually at several decibels higher than we are used to, and decorations are sometimes hung backwards or have been around longer than normal; and no one knows what why we celebrate Christmas – just accept it and use the often overused phrase: "It's China". Just try to enjoy it and don't complain too much, they may not have Christmas pudding but the Gou Bu Li Bao Zi 狗不理包子 are great when they are hot from the steamer.
