Christmas in China by Marta Laskowska

In China, only about one percent of people are Christians, so most people only know a few things about Christmas. Because of this, Christmas is only often celebrated in major cities. In these big cities there are Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Santa Claus is called 'Shen Dan Lao Ren' and you can meet him in shops like in Europe and America.

Only a few people have a Christmas Tree and usually it is a plastic one. It may be decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, paper lanterns. The Christmas Trees that most people would see would be in shopping malls!

A tradition that’s becoming popular, on Christmas Eve, is giving apples. Many stores have apples wrapped up in coloured paper for sale. People give apples on Christmas Eve because in Chinese Christmas Eve is called ‘Ping An Ye’(which means quiet or silent night) and the word for apple in Chinese is ‘Ping Guo’ which sounds similar.

Some people go carol singing and the most popular carol in China is Jingle bells.

A growing number of Chinese celebrate on Christmas Eve by eating Christmas dinners with friends. Exchanging Christmas cards with close friends and family is becoming more popular as is exchanging small, inexpensive gifts.

Traditional Christmas dinners are readily available at hotel restaurants and Western restaurants during Christmas in China.

An East-meets-West Christmas dinner can also be had during Christmas in China. 八宝鸭 (bā bǎo yā, eight treasures duck) is the Chinese version of a stuffed turkey. It is a whole duck stuffed with chicken, smoked ham, stir-fried vegetables with slightly undercooked rice, soy sauce, ginger, spring onions, white sugar and rice wine.

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