Christmas: Less Important Than Chinese New Year, But Still Sometimes Celebrated

Chinese New Year is the foremost winter holiday in Chinese culture. Still, that doesn't mean that Christmas is ignored altogether. Christmas: Less Important Than Chinese New Year, But Still Sometimes Celebrated.

While Christmas Day is not a public holiday, Christmas celebrations are becoming more popular in China itself. Many Chinese people celebrate by decorating their houses with Christmas trees, cooking and eating special foods, and spending time with family and friends. Particularly in urban areas, you'll find Christmas trees, lights, and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Children hang up muslin stockings in the hope that Dun Che Lao Ren, the Chinese version of Santa Claus, will visit and leave gifts. Attendance at Christmas Eve mass has also become more popular in recent years.

Since the Chinese New Year falls around the end of January and the Chinese celebrate that with a lot of pomp and circumstance, Christmas in China is celebrated almost like a run to the New Year.

Will You Eat Apples On Christmas Eve?

Christmas is a western festival，like Spring Festival in China. But now, Christmas also become more and more popular in China.

I heard of eating an apple in Christmas Eve is an interesting idea. It means something special to you but could also have a special meaning to a Christian community. There is a Christmas Carol called "Jesus Christ The Apple Tree". The meaning is from the idea that man became sinful when Adam and Eve ate from the apple tree but Jesus Christ came to earth to release us from that sin and open heaven's door.

Here in China, we Chinese people eat apples on Christmas Eve, because Christmas Eve means "ping an ye", and apple means "ping guo" in Chinese. Most people think eating an apple can make you live a peaceful life in the future

In recent years, Chinese children also show their fondness for Santa Claus, they also wish for red stockings that contain presents on the Christmas Eve. It seems that eat an apple in Christmas Eve more popular. In Chinese, apples stand for safeness, so this in a way reflects our expectations for peace. I suppose this is a Chinese way to pray for another year’s happiness and smooth sailing.