Christmas

The Chinese have managed to absorb most western holidays into their culture in some way or another, so that Christmas music and decorations were everywhere in December should come as no surprise. The curious thing about the way China adapts western traditions, especially religious traditions, is that they choose to pluck the superficial aspects, and leave the significance and meaning out of the holidays. The result is that Christmas, an already over commercialized holiday in the US becomes even more commercial driven in China.

Decorations line the stores, fake trees tower above commercial squares and Christmas carols echo through the coffee shops and malls - it's undoubtedly Christmas. Yet this is a country where religion is slightly more than frowned upon, so the songs lack the meaning behind some of our favorite carols. Sure they play 'Silent Night' on muzzak, but lyrics concerning the birth of Christ are most definitely not allowed. The effect of this unholy mandate was the music in my office was a repeating list of "Santa Clause is coming to Town", "Last Christmas", and "Jingle Bells". For someone who loves Christmas music, it was a tough month.

And just like home, Christmas sales were everywhere. I asked my students if they went out shopping and they all said 'you bet'. I asked them who they were buying gifts for and they said, "no gifts, just buying for ourselves." Pressing the issue, my students confessed to me that Christmas is not a time of giving in China, but merely a time of discount self indulgence. Amazingly my students don't buy gifts to give, but rather use Christmas sales to buy things for themselves.

China does Christmas, and they do it big, but just like spicy tofu, it's missing the meat. They try, they play carols, they decorate trees, they string up lights, but in the end the maybe it doesn't feel enough like Christmas because it isn't home.