Christmas in China
Some who celebrate Christmas in China do so after having spent time in Japan
where the holiday is becoming a booming business. The small percentage of
Chinese who do so, erect artificial trees in their upscale apartments decorated with
spangles form southern China's export zone. Christmas trees are called "trees of
light" and are also decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns.
Children hang up muslin stockings in hopes that Dun Che Lao Ren (China's Santa)
will fill them with presents. Stores have men dressed as Santa Claus handing out
candy and waitresses with Santa hats. The booming commercialism which has
spread outward from Beijing has been called a Chinese phenomenon. It started out
as a friendly gesture or business ploy aimed at Christian visitors.
A festival of peace and renewal known as Ta Chiu is celebrated in Hong Kong.
Taoists summon their gods and ghosts. People make offerings to their patron saints.
Festivities close with the reading of the names of every person who lives in the area.
The names are then listed, attached to a paper horse, and burned in hopes that they
will rise to heaven.
Although Christianity is unsanctioned in China, there are an estimated 10 million
baptized Christians (about 1 percent of the population) who celebrate the birth of
Jesus at Christmas time. The popularity of midnight mass has grown so swiftly over
the past few years that most Catholic churches can not hold the numbers who come
out Christmas Eve. Although a lot of those parishioners are just curious, the
ministers believe it's a positive step toward the spread of Christianity throughout
China. Naturally, they take the opportunity to tell the story of the baby Jesus born in
a manger in Bethlehem.
