How Chinese Children Celebrate Christmas

Most people who live in China are not Christian and therefore they do not celebrate Christmas as we know it.

If you walked around a major Chinese city 20 years ago, you probably wouldn't have seen many signs of Christmas.

However, when you visit China today, you'll see signs of Christmas everywhere! On the Avenue of Eternal Peace in Beijing, China, there are Christmas displays.

Many Chinese people celebrate by decorating their homes with Christmas trees, cooking and eating special foods, and spending time with family and friends.

In Hong Kong, the figure who visits children is known as Lan Khoong or Dun Che Lao Ren. There are church services given in Chinese as well as English. Children send Christmas cards depicting the Holy Family in a Chinese setting. Public areas are decorated with Nativities, poinsettias, streamers, and paper chains.

One boy went up a Christmas tree made of 4,500 cans of preserved food, on show at the Hong Kong International Christmas Fair. The tree was built over four days by 10 people including children. Organizers said it's the first of its kind in Asia. (AP Photo/Lo Sai Hung)

Here are some ideas on how children celebrate Christmas in China:

They make paper lanterns to decorate their homes.

They set up a Tree of Light, or Christmas tree, and adorn it with paper chains, paper flowers and paper lanterns.

Children hang muslin stockings to be filled with small presents.

Parents buy children new clothes and toys for the occasion.

In China, understand that it's appropriate to honor your ancestors during the New Year's celebration by hanging portraits in your home of relatives from past generations.

Families display bowls of oranges and tangerines, which symbolize wealth and good fortune.

Do children wearing costume jewellery symbolize wealth and good fortune, or is it
just for show, to get them used to looking dressed up for the outside world to see.
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Do you think your country has wacky/fun Christmas traditions? Do you have an idea for presenting gifts of jewellery on Christmas Day?

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