There are only four days until Christmas and in our London office the festivities are well under way. The party is planned; the Secret Santa Committee are working hard, the playlist is selected and the halls are “decked”.
As we embark on another festive season of carolling, mince pies and glad tidings, we couldn’t help but wonder what our colleagues in Beijing and Shanghai were doing to get in the festive spirit. So we asked them, and they had a lot to say! So without further ado, put your feet up, grab a festive ale and get ready to learn about Christmas in China.
The basics
Only 1% of China’s population are Christian. To many, the long donkey ride to Bethlehem, the Three Wise Men and the manger are a complete mystery. And yet in recent years it has become increasingly popular to celebrate Christmas in China. Malls are adorned with glittering Christmas lights and coloured baubles, and of course there’s always a special visit from Santa. (And sometimes a dozen of them!)
However in many ways Christmas in China is very different from the UK. There’s no public holiday, and as a result the celebration is treated more like St Patricks Day or Valentines Day. Many people see Christmas as a day to celebrate with friends rather than a time to reconnect with family.
Translating Christmas – China’s unique tradition
Now it’s time for a quick Mandarin lesson! The word for Christmas in Chinese is 圣诞节 (shengdanjie) meaning holy birth festival, and Santa is known as 圣诞节老人（shengdanjie laoren) the Christmas old man! Cool right? But there is one particular festive translation that has produced a very unique Christmas tradition.
On Christmas Eve in China it has become customary to exchange apples. Not just your run-of-the-mill apples either. These apples can be bought in supermarkets in major cities across China. They’re encased in brightly coloured wrapping paper or placed in sparkling boxes strewn with festive greetings. They cost an arm and a leg too!
“But why?” I hear you cry! Well, the word for Christmas Eve in China is 平安夜（ping’anye), literally translating as peaceful evening. This is believed to be a direct translation from the Christmas carol “Silent Night”. The Chinese word for apple 苹果 （pingguo) also sounds similar to the word for peace, and that’s how the tradition was born!
And finally….
There is one bizarre Chinese Christmas tradition that The Dragon Trip team hasn’t quite been able to put its finger on. In China Santa Claus is often depicted playing the saxophone. It’s a pretty common sight actually. Why? Well your guess is as good as ours…
We are finally reaching the end of 2016 and boy has it been a great year for our China tours team! Read more about it in The Dragon Trip’s Christmas Message!
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