With headlines emerging every year over China’s alleged crackdown on the holiday -- ranging from “Santa Claus won’t be coming to town,” to “China cancels Christmas,” and “China gets its Claus out for Christmas,” the question stands: Do people in China celebrate Christmas? Are they allowed to?
[Transcript]
No, this isn’t an alternate universe where familiar elements take on a strange twist, verging on the surreal.
This, is Christmas in China.
With headlines emerging every year over China’s alleged crackdown on the holiday -- ranging from “Santa Claus won’t be coming to town,” to “China cancels Christmas,” and “China gets its Claus out for Christmas,” the question stands: Do people in China celebrate Christmas?
Are they allowed to?
Recognized as a religious holiday in many parts of the world, with roots that stem from the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is predominantly secularized in China.
In a largely non-Christian country like China, with only 68 million -- or 5% -- of the population who are Christian, the religious elements of the holiday are significantly toned down.
Though Christmas is not a national holiday on the Chinese calendar, it still falls on December 25 each year. Aside from Hong Kong and Macau, where inhabitants enjoy a two-day public holiday, the rest of China doesn’t get the day off from work.
Most observe Christmas for the entertainment value -- and just like Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s Day in China, the holiday presents a time for shopping and socializing.
Sandwiched right between 11-11, “Singles’ Day” and the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which takes place in late January or early February, Christmas boosts year-end sales, just like in the U.S.
There are several similarities on the surface between Christmas in China and Christmas in America, such as Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, Santa hats, and Santa Claus, but look past that, and the differences grow greater.
Unlike the Western tradition of family gatherings indoors and religious worship at church, most people in China head out to karaoke bars or the movies with friends, while couples exchange presents with each other as romantic gestures.
At the end of 2019, one of the highest-searched terms online was “Christmas gift for girlfriend,” on TaoBao, a Chinese online shopping site that’s also the world’s biggest e-commerce platform.
Christmas is a time to travel, with eight out of the ten most popular overseas destinations in the United States and Europe, with Las Vegas and San Francisco as two of the top searches. Another popular search is for Christmas and Disney.
On Christmas Eve, it’s common to eat an apple -- and present apples as gifts to loved ones and at parties -- because Christmas Eve, translated in Chinese, is “Ping’An Ye” which means “peaceful night.” Apple, which is pronounced “ping guo,” sounds like peace, and because of this, those who eat apples on Christmas Eve do so to usher in a peaceful and safe, harmonious new year.
Unlike the reasoning for eating apples on Christmas, why Santa Claus often appears playing a saxophone is largely unknown.
It’s been speculated that it’s because the instrument exudes “cool,” which is what Chinese people attribute to the holiday more than an inherently sacred nature.
Despite how consumers in China and around the world are in a merry mood to shop, they may not be aware that Santa’s village is actually located in China, in Yiwu, a town in the Zhejiang province. But elves are replaced by Chinese workers who produce 60% of the world’s Christmas decorations there, making China the largest exporter of Christmas supplies, for nearly 200 countries.
Though China is integral to the Christmas shopping season, the same doesn’t necessarily apply the other way around.
Consequently, all is not silent over Christmas night.
There are some who protest against the holiday, denoting how Christmas is influencing China’s own culture and traditions.
Openly religious ceremonies, praying, and singing religious carols are restricted.
Christians in China turn to underground churches instead -- gathering in homes and offices, conference rooms and online -- keeping their festivities and faith to themselves in private.
Despite how far China has attempted to stray from Western influence, when it comes to Christmas, both China and the United States have experienced one phenomenon in common:
The religious meaning of Christmas has become largely overtaken by the commercialization of the holiday in both countries.
And... just like the Santa who plays the saxophone, it looks like it’s going to stay that way.