Christmas in China

With Christmas season upon us, I thought I'd share a little tidbit about the celebration of Christmas within China. Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. Chinese Children hang muslin stockings and await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means "Christmas Old Man." Since the vast majority of the Chinese people practice Buddhism, not Christianity, the main winter festival in China is the Chinese New Year which takes place toward the end of January. Now officially called the "Spring Festival," it is a time when children receive new clothing, eat luxurious meals, receive new toys, and enjoy firecracker displays. An important aspect of the New Year celebration is the recognition of ancestors. Portraits and paintings of ancestors are brought out and hung in the main room of the home. The celebration of Christmas, although still thought to be a very "Christian" and "western" holiday, is a slowly growing trend within China's borders.