Christmas is not an official holiday recognized by the government. I have asked many of my students if they celebrate Christmas. Most say no, but a few say yes, meaning they give presents on Christmas. It is clear that many don't realize what they are celebrating. When they have asked me why we celebrate it, most have been surprised to learn that there is a meaning beyond presents and trees. At the same time, there are quite a few Christians in China who celebrate the holiday for its religious significance. Just walk into any registered Chinese church on Sunday and see if you can get a seat; you probably won't unless you get there an hour early. The one thing I haven't seen: a nativity. I guess I will have to wait until this Sunday at Congregation of the Good Shepherd where the children are reenacting a nativity as part of this week's liturgy.
Seeing all the decorations of Christmas here without their meaning attached reminds me of the speech the Grinch gives after he steals all the superficial symbols of Christmas but the people still celebrate. It is kind of opposite of here where we have all the superficial symbols but not the "little bit more" that the Grinch reminds us of:
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
Here are some pictures to liven your Christmas spirit:
A sort of sad and puny tree at my favorite pizza joint: Pyro Pizza in Wudaukou
From my apartment lobby
A smaller tree from my apartment lobby
A small tree at an ice cream stand- Charlie Brown would be so proud!
A Rockefeller Center style tree outisde my office building
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