Christmas traditions and customs in three East Asian countries are
discussed here. These are - China, Hong Kong (now a part of China) and
Japan. Here are the highlights:
In China, Christian children trees with colorful paper ornaments
in shapes of flowers, chains and lanterns. They hang muslin
stockings for the Christmas Old Man to keep gifts and treats for
them. There, Christmas trees are called 'Trees of Light' and Santa
Claus is known as 'Dun Che Lao Ren', which means 'Christmas Old
Man.' Non-Christian Chinese celebrate holiday season as the Spring
Festival. There pay respect to their honors and festivities and
feasts ensue. Children receive new clothes and toys, eat delicious
food and enjoy firework displays and crackers.
Hundreds of church services are conducted in Chinese for
Christians of Hong Kong. For Europeans, there are services in
English. Christmas cards are exchanged and talented people love to
give handmade Christmas cards to their loved ones. The main theme of
these cards is the Holy Family in a Chinese setting. Christmas
decorations feature poinsettias and Nativity scenes and Chinese
alphabets can be seen on streamers and paper chains. Santa Claus is
known as Lan Khoong or Dun Che Lao Ren here.
Christians constitute only 1% of Japanese population. Yet, most
Japanese people decorate their homes and shops with evergreens
during Christmas and exchange gifts. A priest called Hoteiosha acts
like Santa Claus in Japan and distributes gifts and presents to all
children, going door to door. It is said that he has eyes on the
back of his head, so children try to be nice when he is nearby.
Japanese Christian do not consider Christmas as a family holiday and
do not have turkey or plum pudding. Rather, they spend the day doing
social work and charity such as helping the sick and the poor. In
Sunday schools, programs and events are organized for children on
Christmas Eve or Christmas night that last for hours. They may
include singing, recitations and Nativity plays.
Christmas is an important festival of India. It is celebrated
differently in different parts of India. Christians in India
decorate banana or mango trees. There are several old churches in
Goa which are frequented by locals as well as the foreign tourist
during Christmas. One should make an advance booking in Goa Hotels
if planning a visit to Goa during Christmas & New Year.
