Society
'We'll be giving our Chinese pals a genuine seasonal experience'
By Erik Nilsson (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-25 08:09
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Christmas is coming to China a little bit more every year.
It seems as if this predominantly Western holiday has increased its profile here each of the four Decembers I've spent in Beijing.
It's not just that more restaurants, hotels and stores are starting to hang decorations shaped like Christmas trees, Santa Clauses and wreaths.
It's not just that more service staffers are donning Kris Kringle caps.
And it's not just that this year, for the first time, I've seen more than two retailers selling gingerbread houses - something I wouldn't have imagined four years ago.
More importantly, it seems as if more local friends, especially younger ones, are making celebration plans.
Most Chinese I know who are hoping to get into the spirit of the season are doing so by dining out - not at all typical in the West but a common mode for both Westerners and Chinese to mark Dec 25 here.
My wife and I treated a mix of foreign and Chinese friends to a splendid meal at a Yunnan restaurant last night, Christmas Eve. We're not sure our Chinese buddies are quite ready yet for turkey, gravy and cranberries. But it seems more pals want to do more to commemorate the festival.
A few days ago, a Chinese couple my wife and I regularly get together with asked us to show them how we celebrate Christmas.
They told us that, for many years, they've marked the festive season by joining other Chinese for lavish feasts at restaurants, as well as washing down copious amounts of tipple.
"But what else is there?" they wanted to know.
So we'll cook for them a quasi-traditional Christmas dinner at our home, which is already decorated with a tree heaving with glistening ornaments, red stockings and a stuffed Santa.
Food will be followed by the construction, decoration and devouring of a gingerbread house (perhaps we'll shape it like siheyuan, a typical Chinese courtyard structure), and some glogg, a hot mulled wine from Sweden.
Imbibing this spiced brew at Christmas is a tradition my grandfather brought with him when he immigrated to the United States from Stockholm.
Then we'll cut out snowflakes from folded pieces of computer paper.
My wife and I have taken inspiration from traditional Chinese paper-cutting since moving to Beijing. We've been embedding hidden images of snowmen, reindeer and holly leaves in our crystal-shaped handicrafts.
Afterwards, we'll give our guests presents, which have been wrapped and placed under our tree. I might even dispense them while dressed as Santa. I already have the famous suit, an outfit that has also become easier to find for sale here.
It's a merry thing to see Christmas push its way Eastward and to be able to enjoy more and jollier celebrations with local friends.
Now, if only the West could pick up on Spring Festival.
