Many people are asking how we are spending Christmas over here and what kinds of Christmas activities does Shanghai have to offer?!
I think I have mentioned that Christmas definitely has a presence here...and it's growing every year, according to locals! Anything that promotes consumerism is very good for the Chinese people! Everywhere I go, there are Christmas decorations hanging on store fronts, plazas have huge Christmas trees and decorations, sections of stores are dedicated to buying toys, doctors offices have decorations, office plazas have lights all over their trees and sidewalks, and there is Christmas music playing EVERYWHERE! Just about any store or plaza or office I visit, has Christmas music playing. It's great! It feels like home - almost. :)
Since the US has a division of thought about Christmas...some celebrate the religious aspect of the Holiday and some celebrate Santa's visit to their kids or sometimes BOTH...the Chinese might be a little confused as to the origin of the Holiday. Foreigners from around the world, I think, contend with this division of thought. The Chinese have definitely adopted the Santa version more than the faith of Christianity version. Christianity and Catholicism are present here, but neither drives the bulk of the population over here. And really...it comes down to consumerism. Money talks.
I know some businesses are celebrating with Holiday parties. MANY of the more middle to upper class Chinese families attend a Christmas Eve dinner at a hotel with friends. Christmas Eve dinner seems to be very popular with both expats and chinese alike. Our own family, went to a Christmas party today, hosted by our Chinese friends. It was lots of fun! :) It was so nice to be celebrating Christmas in a traditional way. We had a ton of delicious food, had a gift exchange, drank wine, sang Christmas songs...everybody had a really great time!
My mom and John come back from Guilin tonight. They will be staying with us for another 2 weeks or so. So, we will all be celebrating Christmas morning here at our house. Since it's a normal work day, we will probably visit a museum or walk the famous "Bund" after we open presents and eat Christmas morning goodies. It's so great to have my mom here with us this Holiday. It feels even more like "home". :)
1 comment:
The Christmas decor over there looks fun! Sounds like it feels more like Christmas over there than you thought it would. I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and can't wait to hear about it! That tree looks pretty neat and is pretty cool. :)
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