A banner hanging in Modern College of Northwest University reads "Strive to be outstanding sons and daughters of China, oppose obsession to Western holidays" in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. [Photo from web]

Authorities in a Chinese city have banned all schools from celebrating Christmas, reported Modern Gold Express on Thursday.

The Education Bureau in Wenzhou sent a notice to schools prohibiting Christmas-related activities as it wants students to pay more attention to Chinese festivals rather than to Western ones.

Zheng Shangzhong, an official at the bureau, said the order is an attempt to reverse the schools' obsession with Western festivals at the expense of Chinese ones.

After the notice was issued, some schools were forced to cancel the programs and events that they had been preparing for long. The ban immediately ignited fierce debate on the Internet.

A user claiming to be a teacher said there is nothing wrong for schools to be cool with western festivals.

A parent supported the school's ban, saying Western festivals are becoming too commercial and are only for people to do shopping.

Many said it's ridiculous to "resist Westernization". A senior student regarded it's a good chance for the class to take a break from studies rather than having "obsession with Western culture".