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China Elevator Stories
Not in the holiday spirit? You’re not the only one.
Do you feel like you just haven’t gotten into the holiday spirit this year?
27/12/2015
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
If you’re feeling like the holiday cheer just hasn’t arrived for you this year, you’re definitely not alone.
Celebrating holidays abroad
For some people, living abroad means escaping the pressures of holiday celebrations—no family drama, no shopping mall chaos, and no stressing over dinner preparations. But for others, the holiday season abroad can trigger a kind of “holiday depression.” It’s not necessarily the stress of preparations, but the difficulty of recreating the atmosphere and traditions that you had back home.
Christmas in China
Celebrating Christmas in China can be particularly challenging. Christmas has been stripped of its traditional context and repurposed in a way that’s hard to grasp for many. In a way, it’s similar to how Western countries might react if Spring Festival became a global holiday. What makes it even trickier is that many Chinese families, including your spouse and in-laws, may not know how to celebrate it the way you’re used to.
Red Songs and a paper Christmas tree
For us, this year’s Christmas was a mix of tradition and adaptation. We had a tiny paper Christmas tree, but instead of Christmas carols, we listened to Red (Communist) Songs—songs that my 17-month-old son loves more than any holiday tune I grew up with. Let me tell you, there’s no arguing with a toddler! I also made red paper stars and hung them in the living room window. Red is a color that’s considered auspicious in China, and I liked the vibrancy it added to our space. Plus, white is associated with funerals here, so I thought red would be a more festive and fitting choice. If you’re after lighter colors for your decorations, you can always go with silver, gold, or pastels.
One of the most touching moments came when my in-laws gave our son Christmas presents. They don’t celebrate Christmas the way we do, but they understood its importance. They didn’t wrap the gifts or put them under the tree, but they handed them over to him ahead of time, which, in their own way, showed their love and effort to share in the spirit of the holiday. To them, Christmas is like Spring Festival is to us—about being together and sharing joy.
Wishing you a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!