Many Westerners may be surprised at the way Chinese people have made Christmas a festival of their own. More surprising for them would be the ease with which Chinese people have added so many Chinese elements to an essentially Western celebration.

For as long as people in their 20s can remember, apples have been wrapped in red and green paper to be gifted as presents on Christmas Eve, because the pronunciation of the first characters in apple and Christmas Eve sound like: "safe and sound" in Chinese.

Just like Valentine's Day, Christmas with distinguishable Chinese characteristics has become a celebration for people in China to forget, no matter how temporarily, their humdrum everyday life.