Christmas in Asia!

Christmas in
ASIA

Christmas in
China

China is a large country of 1.2 billion people, most of whom live in the country side and most of whom live in the eastern edge of the country. The chinese represent many ethnic groups with many different traditions. Despite communist rule, there are still many Christians in China, but even these celebrate Christmas with different twists depending upon region, clan, and history.

Some Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. The children of China hang stockings and await a visit from Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas Old Man.".

Since the vast majority of the Chinese people are not Christian, the main winter festival in China is the Chinese New Year. This event takes place toward the end of January. Now officially called the "Spring Festival," it is a time when children receive new clothing, feast on great foods, receive new toys, and enjoy fireworks displays. Ancester worship is an important aspect of the New Year celebration. Portraits and paintings of ancestors are brought out and hung in the main room of the home.

Since I have not spent that much time in China, I would appreciate any e-mai that could explain other Chinese traditions during this season. If worthy, I will post it here. Thanks.

email from Hong Kong

Please thank God with us that our visa extension request for 2years was approved on Monday. We were concerned we may not be able to stay in Hong Kong.

HK celebrates Christmas in a very commercial way since most people are not Christians. Actually apart from some big stores you wouldn't know it was Christmas here. The big holiday here is Chinese New Year which will be Feb. 7 this year. Of course, the Christians do celebrate much like you do. We have several Christmas services and sing the carrols. In China Christmas is not celebrated much at all although recently some of the big department stores have decorated and play Christmas songs.
Albert

Editors Note: Hong Kong was a British colony when this letter was written. This year the former British Colony was returned to Chinese ownership!

Christmas in
India

EMAIL
Date: Monday, December 23, 1996 6:35 AM

Hi,
I am an Indian christian. We celebrated Christmas in the southern most state called Kerala. We celebrate it by observing 25 days of lent and attend a holy mass at midnight of 24th December. The mass ends early morning on Christmas day. The whole family gets together, and the Santa Claus and gifts are not the top priority, but the birth of the Savior. Every house hangs a Christmas star regardless of their religion, all throughout the season. It is a very holy time.

end 12/23/96 EMAIL

Christians in the tropical areas of India decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas time. Their houses are sometimes decked with mango leaves. In some parts of India, small oil-burning lamps made of clay are used as Christmas decorations which are placed on the edges of flat roofs and on the tops of walls. Christian churches are decorated with poinsettias and lit with candles for the Christmas Eve service.

I have never personally been to India. If you live in India, could you e-mail your Christmas customs to me and I will post them on this page.

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