Like the rest of the world, Christmas Day in China is on December 25th each year. However, Christmas traditions in the country are relatively young and it is mainly celebrated as a commercial season instead of a religious day. Here are more interesting facts about how the Chinese celebrate Christmas!
1) Christmas Day is not a religious celebration.

In many parts of the world, Christmas Day is a Christian holiday celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth. But in China, observers estimate only 3-5% of the population is Christian, which means Christmas is more of a secular season of shopping and feasting. Tapping into the festive mood, commercial establishments and malls attract shoppers with seasonal sales.

2) Christmas Day is celebrated like Valentine’s Day.

Western countries celebrate Christmas with family, but in China celebrations are like Valentine’s Day. It’s a lighthearted day for young people to go out with their significant others and celebrate with small gifts. They also hang out with friends to go out to a movie, karaoke bar, or go shopping.

3) Christmas is not a public holiday.

Because of the first two facts, Christmas is not an official holiday in China and you may be asked to report to work on this day. Students also don’t get to take the day off!

But in Hong Kong and Macau where British and Portuguese influence is heavy, people enjoy a two-day public holiday every year.

4) China has a Christmas Village.

Beiji Village is China’s first Christmas theme park. It is located in the northernmost arctic part of China in the Mohe countryside. You can see the Northern Lights in this village, ride a sled, play with snow, visit Santa Claus’s House and experience Christmas like never before.

5) It’s all about Santa’s sisters and friends.

Forget about Santa’s reindeer or helper elves, it’s all about his sisters and friends in China. In malls, Santa is accompanied by women wearing fun Christmas-themed costumes. Chinese Santas also go out in packs with other Santas.

6) A town in China manufactures 60% of Christmas decorations in the world!

Yiwu, a town in Zhejiang province is the main source of the world’s Christmas decorations. This town is popular for its wholesale goods, affordable pricing and huge marketplace. Back in 2012, Yiwu had more than 750 manufacturing companies making Christmas products. The rest of the world has Yiwu to thank for Christmas!

7) China’s image of Santa is playing the saxophone.

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.

One Chinese journalist Helen Gao wrote, “My guess is that it perhaps has to do with the fact that saxophone is obviously an instrument with a Western origin, which fits Santa’s image, and is portable so Santa can make Christmas music anywhere he goes. Sound like enough reason for Chinese to lump the two together?”

8) Peace apples wrapped beautifully are a common gift.

A common present in China during Christmas Eve is the Peace Apple which is wrapped in fancy cellophane. In Mandarin, Christmas Eve is sometimes translated as “Ping’an Ye” which literally means “Silent Night,” just like the Christmas carol. Apple in Chinese is “Ping guo”, which sounds like peace, thus the gifting of apples. If you eat the apple, you will have peace and safety throughout the year.

9) Beijing hosts a SantaCon, and other Christmas parties!

If you live in a larger city like Beijing and Shanghai, or are part of an expat community (foreigners living abroad in China), chances are the Christmas season is a blend of many cultures for you. International communities in China get creative to make the holiday festive for foreigners and Chinese alike.

In Beijing, you might have heard of SantaCon! Though limited because of Covid concerns, SantaCon is a place to “dress up in Santa suits, run around Beijing for hours, give gifts, sing songs, have strangers sit on our laps and decide who is naughty or nice.” Beijing residents can look forward to the exciting sight of hundreds of Santas running down the street!

Shanghai is host to many Christmas markets each year! Often in a European theme, they sell traditional holiday treats like Glühwein (mulled wine) and other pastries and cakes, as well as holiday symbols like evergreen wreaths. Even if there’s no snow or weeklong holiday, Shanghai’s residents will brave the cold to take advantage of the Christmas discounts, holidays parties, and Christmas-themed events.

During the time it was banned, some people still celebrated Christmas but only in a very quiet way. Now Christmas celebrations are much more widespread.

Christmas Eve is called 'Nochebuena' (which means 'the good night') and it's when families have their main meal and celebration together.

The traditional main dish is roast pork (some families like to roast a whole pig) normally served with fried plantains, rice and vegetables. Dessert is often rice pudding or sweet potato pudding.

More people are now going to a midnight mass church service after eating their Nochebuena meal.

In the town of Remedios there is a very big fiesta and parade on Christmas Eve called 'Las Parrandas'. One story says that in the 1820s the priest in the town thought that people might go to sleep after their meal and not go to midnight mass; so he got some children to make a lot of noise to keep people awake!

Now Las Parrandas in Remedios is a very loud parade and party with different neighbourhoods in the town trying to out do each other with their costumes and music! The festivities start at 10pm when the church bells ring. At midnight there are lots of fireworks and more partying.

Epiphany is also celebrated in Cuba. Before Christmas was banned it was very popular and was when people exchanged presents. Children hope that the Three Kings will bring them presents at Epiphany.

This is still widely celebrated by Cuban communities in places like Miami.

2. No meat on Christmas Eve
In what is a very traditional tradition, the Italians don’t eat meat on Christmas Eve, or la Vigilia. Instead they eat a variety of fish dishes - sometimes up to seven courses of seafood! This is typical on the day and night before any religious celebration; you are supposed to ‘eat lean’ and purify your body ahead of the holidays! Popular fish dishes vary across the country. In Rome, they enjoy the local dish of pezzetti: artichoke, zucchini and broccoli fried together - whereas in Naples, seafood and broccoli are sautéed.

3. Visiting the Vatican for midnight mass
A popular Christmas tradition for those who live or are staying in Rome is visiting the Vatican for midnight mass with the Pope on Christmas Eve. This actually happens at 9.30pm, rather than midnight, and is free to attend. It is also televised in St. Peter’s Square for those who don’t manage to get into the basilica to see the Pope - and participate in the mass - up close. If you have been on a guided Vatican tour, then you will know big the square is; it is even more magical at Christmas time, with its huge tree and nativity scene, and people celebrating the holidays as one.

6. Gifts from the good witch

It is not only Santa who brings Christmas gifts. Right across Italy, on January 6 - marking the end of the holiday season - there is a visit from la Befana. This translates literally as ‘the good witch’, and legend says that on this date she would fill stockings with candy for the children on the good list, and coal for the naughty children.

7. Sweet treats
At Christmas, the Italians are especially big on sweet food. Of course, it varies across the country from the city to city - but they definitely have a collective sweet tooth over the holidays! Panettone and pandoro, both examples of sweet bread, are popular across the country and enjoyed by all. But in Siena you’ll find cavallucci on offer: cookies decorated with the image of a house - and on a tour of Rome city you’re bound to spot someone eating spiced nut pastries known as mostaccioli.

8. Displaying a ceppo
In most Italian households you will likely find a ceppo on display during the festive season. Believed to have originated from the Tuscan area, a ceppo is a pyramid-shaped wooden frame which can be anywhere up to a few feet high. Within the frame there are shelves: the bottom shelf will display a small Nativity scene and those above will have candy, fruit and small gifts on them. A star or little doll may be placed at the top, and sometimes candles are attached to the sides - everyone does their ceppo slightly differently, but the basic premise is the same and they are a popular decoration in Italian homes during the holidays.

In Japan, Christmas in known as more of a time to spread happiness rather than a religious celebration. Christmas Eve is often celebrated more than Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is thought of as a romantic day, in which couples spend together and exchange presents. In many ways it resembles Valentine's Day celebrations in the UK and the USA. Young couples like to go for walks to look at the Christmas lights and have a romantic meal in a restaurant - booking a table on Christmas Eve can be very difficult as it's so popular!

Fried chicken is often eaten on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. It is the busiest time of year for restaurants such as KFC and people can place orders at their local fast food restaurant in advance! There was an advertising campaign by KFC in the 1974 called 'Kentucky for Christmas!' (Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!) which was very successful and made KFC popular for Christmas!

The traditional Japanese Christmas food is Christmas cake, but it's not a rich fruit cake, but is usually a sponge cake decorated with strawberries and whipped cream. 

Other Christmas decor is negotiable (and becoming more and more popular), but one thing every French home has at Christmastime is the crèche, or Nativity scene. These aren't your average church nativity scenes. Many feature entire villages aside from the traditional manger scene, particularly in Provence where there are many stands at each Christmas market selling the little figurines.

CALENDRIER D'AVENT

Advent calendars are a big deal in France. Children eagerly await the 1st of December to open the first door, usually because there are chocolate or candy treats hiding behind it. Many larger companies have also adopted the Advent calendar idea for adults, filling the boxes with everything from skincare products to candles, and they've become a popular gift to give at the beginning of the holiday season.

If you're looking to pull out all the stops for a French Christmas dinner, make sure you're doing it on the right day! The biggest meal of the holiday is usually eaten on Christmas Eve, known as le Réveillon, instead of on Christmas Day. The starters often consist of foie gras, oysters, or escargots, followed by a bird–often a capon or turkey–and finishing with the bûche de Noël, or Yule log, as well as other treats like chocolates and nougat. All washed down with wine, it's a wonder the French ever make it to midnight Mass afterward.

The Yule log, or bûche de Noël, has come a long way since its origins as the literal log families would burn on Christmas to bring good luck in the new year. The current incarnations are like a seriously fancy Swiss Cake roll, and the master pâtissiers (pastry makers) in Paris are often incredibly creative with each new iteration. It's the perfect festive Christmas dessert!

FÊTE DES ROIS

The official end of the Christmas season is the Fête des Rois, or the Three Kings' Day (Epiphany to US folks), and is celebrated here with the galette des rois, or king cake. It's a flaky pastry generally filled with frangipan (an almond cream), and hidden inside is a fève (tiny baby figurine). Whoever gets the piece with the fève gets to be the king or queen for the day. Literally most bakeries sell the cakes with a paper crown. While in the US this tradition is more typical of Mardi Gras, why not start the party a little early this year?

Many Christians mark Christmas Day by attending special church services, spending time with family members, wearing new clothes and eating a festive meal. Some families exchange gifts or give small presents or sweets to children. They may display small electric lamps or small clay oil-burning lamps and decorate their homes with banana or mango leaves. Some also put up a nativity scene with clay figures or a Christmas tree. Christmas trees in India are usually imitation pine trees or branches of native trees or bushes.

Some stores and malls may put up Christmas decorations and have actors playing Santa. Christmas celebrations in tourist areas and hotels may be created to emulate how Christmas Day is celebrated in the countries where tourists and travelers are from.
Public Life

National, state and local government offices, post offices and banks are closed on Christmas Day. Christian stores, businesses and other organizations may be closed or have reduced opening hours. Those wishing to use public transport on the day may need to contact the local transport authorities to check on timetables.

Dacă vă veți afla în Italia de Crăciun în 2021, petreceți ca localnicii și citi mai multe despre cele mai cunoscute tradiții de Crăciun și de Anul Nou din Italia.

Să începem cu celebrul simbol al Crăciunului, care nu lipsește niciodată din nicio casă italiană: bradul de Crăciun. În Italia, pomul de Crăciun au devenit o tradiție în a doua jumătate a secolului al XIX-lea datorită reginei Margherita de Savoia, care l-a împodobit în Palazzo del Quirinale din Roma, lansând o modă care s-a răspândit rapid în întreaga peninsulă.

Tradiția spune acum că pomii de Crăciun sunt împodobiți pe 8 decembrie și desfăcuți pe 6 ianuarie în fiecare an.

Italian Christmas tree

Pixnio

O altă parte importantă a Crăciunului italian este ieslea. Scena Nașterii Domnului, așa 🤬  o știm astăzi, se spune că este lucrarea Sfântului Francisc de Assisi. În noaptea de Ajun a Crăciunului din 1223, în Greccio, în Umbria, a realizat prima scenă a nașterii din istorie, reprezentând nașterea lui Isus în leagănul său din Betleem.

Din acel moment, mulți artiști au create figurine din lemn sau din lut în acest scop. Primii au fost toscanii, dar în scurt timp s-au răspândit și în regatul vechi din Napoli. În prezent, maeștrii reprezentării Scenei Nașterii Domnului sunt napolitanii, iar simbolul acestei tradiții napolitane sunt magazinele din Via San Gregorio Armeno.

Dar cadourile? Moș Crăciun, Santa Lucia sau Iisus, cine aduce darurile de Crăciun în Italia?

Evident că în zilele noastre este Moș Crăciun cel care aduce cadouri, deși în unele zone din nordul Italiei, 🤬 ar fi Brescia, Bergamo și Verona, tradiția Santa Lucia continuă să fie sfânta care aduce darurile copiilor de Crăciun. La un moment dat, într-o epocă mai puțin consumatoare, însuși Isus Hristos aducea, în mod traditional, cadouri tuturor copiilor.

Ajungem la unul dintre momentele cele mai importante: Cina din Ajunul Crăciunului sau masa de Crăciun?

Aici, Italia se împarte între cei care acordă o importanță mai mare cinei Vigilia, o masă de seară pe 24 decembrie și cei care preferă prânzul în ziua de Crăciun.

Mâncărurile tipice de Crăciun ale diferitelor regiuni italiene sunt multe și variate, însă merită menționată în special mămăliga cu cod și lesso cu sosuri în Veneto; agnolotti fiert, condimentat cu sosuri în Piemont; carbonade (carne de vită gătită în vin  tortellini și passatelli din Emilia-Romagna; ficat și friptură de bibilică sau capon umplut în Toscana; spaghete cu scoici, supă de capon (cocoș castrat) sau capon umplut în Campania; colurgiones (ravioli umplute) și malloreddus (gnocchetti) în Sardinia și paste cu sarde în Sicilia.

Panettone, cozonacul italian, este cel mai răspândit desert italian de Crăciun

Wikipedia

Acestea fiind spuse, o constantă a tuturor meselor italiene de Crăciun sunt fructele uscate și deserturile, 🤬 ar fi panettone, torrone și pandoro. Pe lângă aceste dulciuri clasice italiene de sărbători, fiecare regiune are propriile dulciuri tipice de Crăciun.

Petrecerile de Crăciun și de Anul Nou se numără printre cele mai delicioase ocazii ale anului. Este o tradiție bine stabilită care aduce familii împreună nu numai pentru a face schimb de cadouri, ci pentru a redescoperi bucuria de a se întâlni la masă împreună.

Cina de gală de Anul Nou este plină de feluri de mâncare variate, care diferă în funcție de regiuni, dar două dintre ele vor fi în mod special prezente pe fiecare masă de la Aosta până la Trapani: zampone și cotechino însoțite de linte. Acesta din urmă reprezintă banii care se vor acumula în cursul anului: cu cât mâncați mai mult, cu atât veți câștiga mai mulți bani!

Masa se încheie cu fructe uscate și struguri. Conform tradiției, este important să aveți struguri pe masă în ziua de Anul Nou, deoarece cei care mănâncă struguri în prima zi din an își numără banii pe tot parcursul anului.

Anul Nou în Italia este sărbătorit cu petarde și focuri de artificii de toate felurile care iluminează cerul pentru a primi 🤬 se cuvine Noul An. Mulți oameni aruncă lucruri vechi de la ferestre, ca să arunce toate lucrurile negative din ultimul an, așteptând lucruri