Did you ever feel that Christmas sounds like a holiday for countries only in the West? But what if we tell you that China holds a place in this history too and with apples? Yes, it is very layered and interesting. It is like China has its own idea of Christmas which is unique and unexpected.
Christmas in China effortlessly mixes the Western concept with the Chinese traditions and modern times have seen the growth of beautiful street lights, themed mall events, gift exchanges, and outings. Unique customs like peace apples being a huge part of Christmas.
But the water is deep. The real beauty lies in the intriguing history, the cultural twists, and how China imagined a global Western holiday in its own magnificent way.
Everything You Should Know About Christmas in China
1. A Surprising History Behind the Joyous Celebrations
It goes way back to small church gatherings and Christmas being introduced by the Jesuit missionaries. The celebrations were very limited in the 17th to 20th centuries. It was a big thing but only for a few areas.
During the Cultural Revolution, it was even banned. Since, it was seen as a symbol of Western imperialism but the 90s and 2000s saw the progress of Christmas being celebrated as a festival.
Eventually, cities like Shanghai and Beijing developed malls. Globalization brought global brands, and tourism, all of it combined, added into making Christmas and decorations suddenly a big thing, even if it is not considered as an official holiday.
Imagine how cool it will be to walk in a mall and see a giant Santa playing a saxophone because that is very common for Chinese Santa. With time, this explains how China shifted the idea of a religious holiday into a holiday of lights, photos, fun and celebrations.
2. Christmas in China Today
Creativity knows no bounds and that is what China follows when it comes to decorating it during Christmas. Imagine every building is glowing. A Santa dancing outside a mall with children running around. Everyone is wearing red hats, drinking hot chocolate.
And that’s the perfect reason why you should book a ticket to China and look up the Chinese Yuan exchange rate for using BookMyForex currency exchange services.
The Lights Are The Standard
China does not believe in minimalism because have you seen how Shanghai’s Nanjing Road has enormous led displays?
The mesmerizing Guangzhou’s Canton Tower dolled up in lights having Christmas colors. And Beijing’s Sanlitun gets a makeover by glowing art installations and designer pop-ups.
We bet not, because the kids are so busy occupying every corner to get their photos clicked and shoot their Christmas content on point.
Everyone’s Go-To Place – Malls
The malls light up, and the aesthetics are on top-notch. With massive Christmas trees, snowfall machines, Santa’s dancing and decorated cafes, you’ll be left amazed. Some malls ensure to have candy stalls or little wooden houses for the kids to not feel left out.
The Peace – Apple Tradition
The most warm part of Christmas is gifting apples on Christmas eve to people you love and cherish for their peace and safety. This is because in Chinese, the word for “apple” is 苹果 (píngguǒ), and the word for “peace” is 平安 (píng’ān).
Shops decorate them in sparkly boxes, ribbons, and even LED lit packaging. It’s both adorable and cultural at the same time.
Christmas Eve or an Early Valentine’s Day?
Christmas in China is actually more like Valentine’s Day. You can find couples going out for family dinners and exchanging gifts. Everyone loves late-night walks under Christmas lights and some cute photoshoots. There are even some restaurants offering heart-shaped desserts.
The Chinese Santa
Santa is an important part of Christmas but Chinese Santa has a different personality. Sometimes he plays the saxophone, and sometimes dances outside malls. The Chinese style elves or women who he calls his ‘sisters’ help him to distribute gifts in kindergartens.
For the Foodies
Instead of roast turkey and casseroles, people prefer hotpot, Japanese BBQ, buffets and Western cafes with the evergreen Christmas cake. Families and friends gather for long meals because in China, celebrations mean good food but together.
Christmas rice balls, fruit and vegetable Christmas wreaths, salads, snowman cotton candy, cakes and biscuits are all popular Christmas foods in China.
Markets with a touch of Christmas
Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu all host European style markets with mulled wine, wooden stalls, ornaments, music and crafts. You’ll find people enjoying shopping, listening to carols and taking lots of pictures everywhere.
Is Christmas really such a Big Deal in China?
Yes. With the growing influence of Hollywood and K-Drama’s it is huge. People grew up watching Christmas being celebrated as something really big and wanted that same vibe. While being heartwarming and cozy, it ensures that you don’t miss a chuckle with your loved ones.
This gives malls, shops or the retailers and commercial organizations a good boost in sales during the holidays. The coming generations love seasonal food and beverages like hot chocolate. They love to capture everything for Instagram to match the season’s aesthetic.
Yiwu, a city in China’s Zhejiang province. It is known as the ‘commodities capital of the world’, and is the world’s leading manufacturer of Christmas decorations. It produces almost 80% of global supply, so the holiday season helps to bring a boost to the economy.
Even smaller cities join the festive mood in their own personalized ways. You’ll love the local bakeries which make Christmas-themed pastries and cakes. While cafes add limited-edition drinks, and streets put up tiny and adorable light displays.
For many, it’s a break from routine and a huge reason to dress up, meet friends, enjoy themed drinks, and explore the city lights. Older people may simply enjoy the atmosphere without actively celebrating, eating or drinking.
You will find women getting dressed beautifully. From applying shimmery red lipstick to snowy white eyelashes and colourful eyeshadow’s. They add on Christmas elements, such as reindeer antlers, Santa hats and Christmas trees to their outfits.
Shanghai Disneyland turns into a magical land during Christmas and has parades, fireworks and various themed shows. Then comes the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival which is an actual winter wonderland. This makes all of us want to visit China during Christmas.
Ensure to get souvenirs like peace apples for your loved ones to surprise them but don’t let the foreign exchange rates surprise you! Well, BookMyForex can handle this. It ensures a transparent process of currency conversion with zero hidden charges.
What truly makes Christmas in China so special is that it gives everyone a chance to slow down. December gets cold, people get busy, and this festival becomes a reminder to step outside and practice gratitude.
So, Christmas in China is playful and it is not about religion. Since it may not be a traditional Chinese festival but it surely is something that is celebrated like one’s own.
About the Author
Bhawna Nijhawan is the Content Manager at BookMyForex and the go-to person for creating engaging, informative content that resonates with the platform’s diverse audience. With over 8 years of experience in content writing and more than 4 years in the forex industry, she knows exactly how to simplify complex forex topics into something everyone can relate to.
