With the downtown area of China's capital city decorated with
smiling Santa Clauses and "Jingle Bells" resounding in many of the
metropolis's shopping malls, the imprint of Christmas,
traditionally a Western holiday, could be seen on this
centuries-old city as well as other parts of the country.
The Chinese website Elong.com recently launched an online survey
seeking 100 reasons why some Chinese people are now celebrating
Christmas. Hundreds of Chinese net-surfers posted their
explanations online.
While the holiday still retains a largely religious significance in
the West, Chinese merrymakers favor Christmas because it provides a
reason for them to celebrate and make merry, according to the Elong
survey.
In
fact, most of the Chinese who are zealous about Christmas are young
people who love the opportunity to binge more than the holiday
itself.
Colorful decorations, Christmas trees and Chinese traditional red
lanterns are put together to mark the occasion -- and shrewd
businessmen are taking the opportunity to profit.
A
26-year-old who only gave his surname of Fang in Guangzhou, capital
of south China's Guangdong
Province, dressed up Tuesday morning for a romantic Christmas
dinner with his girlfriend and planned to spend the night touring
bars and shopping for presents.
Almost all restaurants, pubs and cafes were full of celebrating
youth on Christmas Eve in Guangzhou. Meanwhile, in major cities
across the country, department stores and supermarkets offering
special holiday discounts were crowded with customers.
A
saleswoman surnamed Zhou working in a supermarket in Lhasa,
southwestern China's
Tibet Autonomous Region, said Christmas trees of various sizes,
small bells, decorative stockings and Santa Claus dolls were sold
in large numbers recently.
In
front of Lhasa Saikang Building, some foreigners took a picture
with a Santa Claus, played by a staff member of the building, and
wished each other a "merry Christmas."
Although the Lhasa "Santa Claus" sacrificed much leisure time, he
was satisfied with the money he earned for playing the role.
An
increasing number of Tibetan youth now celebrate Christmas in
addition to the Tibetan New Year and Spring Festival, according to
Gesang, who works for Lhasa Tax Bureau.
However, the holiday was not as popular several years ago as it is
now. Guangzhou-based 31-year-old Mao Xiangnan said when she was
attending college in Beijing, some of her trendy classmates always
discussed whether to consider Christmas a special occasion. The
only way to celebrate the holiday then was going to church and
listening to hymns.
At
present, people can more easily feel touches of the Western
holiday, said Mao.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2002)