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Q: Christmas and China?!
Everywhere I go I'm seeing Christmas trees and other things related to Christmas.That tendency has been growing.
Since there are few - very few - Catholics in this country, I find it so fake and I think is the clearest proof of how consumerist and capitalist this country is. Everyone will be buying expensive and useless things notknowing the real meaning of Christmas. It's true that happens worldwide, even in countries where the majority of the people are religious, but I mean, seeing that in China is hilarious. It's nothing but a major business.
You don't have to be a catholic to celebrate Xmas, e.g. Protestants do so as well. You also don't have to have any affiliation with Christianity to celebrate Christmas, e.g. in my country, although there are religious aspects, it's history has nothing to do with Christianity.
There are 14 million Christians in China. It is a pretty decent customer base. So, all you have to be is a money craving business person who'd like to sell a bit of plastic ornaments for some easy bucks.
Also, since China is a country void of any real culture and tradition, people are sucking up anything they can, and doing their best to bastardize what little original culture there may be left.
Recommended reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule
TianjinCity:
Didn't know about the Yule. You learn everyday. Thanks for sharing.
TianjinCity:
Now, when it comes to decent costumer base you pointed, those 14 millions of Christians - - -> we all know their Christianity is different from other countries'. I will start with the fact that the CP in fact controls what is said and done inside the churches. Therefore I will call it a Chinese Christianity.
TMaster:
I have seen Chinese calling themselves christians purely for the face value of claming to belong to some western stuff.
Needless to say they didn't have the first idea of what means catholic or protestant.
Scandinavian:
@TianjinCity: A day without learning is a day wasted. Merry Yule to you.
brother1818:
I think it's very ignorant of you to first see christians as only catholics, and then add protestants just because Scandinavian mentioned it. So right now, in your opinion after this discussion, christians are made up of catholics and protestants?! Interesting concept. Never mind Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, charismatic, non-denominational christians. Also, I have friends who who very involved in the church here and there is definitely no goverment interference. Yes, they do keep an eye on church meetings because it is a gathering of people, which always makes them nervous, but they don't control what is said. So don't call them 'Chinese Christians'. I know a LOT of people who claim to be christian and don't live the lifestyle one single bit so that's not a concept reserved solely for China. (Disclaimer: I am not a Christian, I used to be so I know what I know, but I am not. So don't think I'm defending myself)
Scandinavian:
@brother1818. I don't know if this is a particularly Scandinavian concept, but back home a sermon would take basis in current events, the minister can say things like "the government should really do more" anything goes during the sermon. In China it's a couple of standard quotes from the bible. The minister doesn't have freedom to say anything,
Also, all the people who are praying for new iPhones. <head shaking/eye rolling>
I agree with your critique of the "classifications" but there is such a thing as "Chinese Christians" Just as there is a difference between a catholic in Germany and one in Brazil.
brother1818:
Fair enough. But the connotations of Chinese Christians mentioned above is harsher than deserved, I feel.
I used to go to Church three times a week in a country that also has free speech. But I can't remember an instance where the minister would have a go at the goverment for any reason. (Obviously the church as an institution does that) I understand that the freedom to do so is nice but I feel that you can have an entirely authentic Christianity here without once mentioning the government.
Scandinavian:
I think specifically in China, for a sermon to have any meaning, it must be related to everyday life. <stab at generalizing on Chinese people>the lack of ability of abstract thinking in Chinese culture is almost non-existing, so things will be taken too literal and the real meaning is as lost as proof Santa Claus is real<stab at generalizing on Chinese people>
You know, when the best celebrations 5000 years of history could put up are ones where people buy cakes nobody actually enjoys to eat and end up feeding the dogs, and another that consists of keeping busy getting your city on fire for the best of the night, I guess Christmas is not a bad thing.
Scandinavian:
Oooh, I am reminded I have more mooncake in the freezer. yummy yummy
Gives me a reason to have a good meal and beer. I'll celebrate. I am not to concerned about why. The Chinese celebrate because they want to have a good time, like everybody else. I don't see anything wrong with that. What is wrong is when you start to coerce people to believe what you do.
TianjinCity:
I only celebrate an occasion when I know what it is about. If I don't know what it is about or I don't find it interesting or I have no knowledge about it or I cannot relate to it then I just keep quiet and I find another random day to go eat, drink or party somewhere. After all a year has 365 days. There is nothing wrong with partying or celebrating. What I think is wrong is making of Christmas in China a deal involving big amounts of money and stimulating this new generation of Little Emperors' into thinking that Christmas is all bout getting the new iPhone 5c or any other gadget, and not into perceiving Christmas as a time where you should celebrate your family, your life and what are the best free gifts life has to offer you, as in you being loved and love back and being healthy, etc.
If they want to celebrate Christmas, have at it...it sure stimulates the economy, and every country needs that...
TianjinCity:
You forgot the it ONLY stimulates their economy. Yup. Economy rules the world. As long as a country is economically prosperous then we can forget about the rest. Let the money make the people
yeah, I think it is odd behavior also. but sometimes I think chinese people, especially the younger generation, let's say 50 and under, want to be Western. hehe,, am I crazy ? Look around,, seems most things they do are like USA-lite. Well, I guess I cannot blame them, even though I myself have kinda grown out of the consumerism for consumerism's sake mentality, but I still cannot blame them,,, I mean, what are they supposed to embrace ? Sitting in some bass-ackwards village listening to old geezers tell u about how to farm and eat crap food and squat around communal area in shiitty-ass clothes looks like they are from some kinda bad nightmare movie, 'talking' @ 100 decibels, then bed by 10 after drinking that crappy rice liquor and playing that fascinatingly boring mah-jong game and up at 5am to do farm stuff? Yeah, I guess I would embrace Westernism too.
Well...I have seen plenty of Cone shaped christmas trees, the same cardboard picture of Father Xmas (X = Christ) in every shop window and something I wasnt expecting, in a land obsessed with LED lights.....TINSEL!
Also, The I believe the breed of christian that exists here has some strain of Jehavahs Witness style leaning right? Correct me if Im wrong. Do you get Chinese Mormons? We have one in my school...I've caught her trying to spead the gospel to students. I started talking about Holy dinosaurs...
Mr_Sausage:
Ah yes, I havent seen any saxophone playing Santas...YET
Scandinavian:
@Sausage. You can invest in your own Saxy Santa http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=36044645753&ali_refid=a3_420435_1006:1105784592:6:%CA%A5%B5%AE%C0%CF%C8%CB:9241099e0aa3b3446992f2ddc8fa2b15&ali_trackid=1_9241099e0aa3b3446992f2ddc8fa2b15&spm=a230r.1.18.12.lZ4xjt
Why are people so judgmental? Who cares if they dont understand or its fake. I think you dont understand the real meaning of xmas. Its just as commercial back in our countries now a days anyways. If it makes people feel warm and happy whats wrong with that? I am non denominational and xmas is super important to me, so I for one am excited to see all the decorations around.
Back in Vancouver we have a large chinese population and my family has always had fun celebrating Chinese New Year, we would see the parades and my mom would give us Hong Bao and we would eat Dim Sum, I dont remember a single Chinese person ever judging us. It was a cause to have fun. And if Chinese feel xmas is the same here. Good for them.
well, i find it fake that westerners call themselves christians, and then go and blow up some Iraqis, and then laugh about it. i dont like the idea of christmas decorations in China. as if China wasnt westernised enough as it is. Chinese people ought to be proud of their own culture and customs and stop trying to be like the west. i think China believes in reciprocity. if the west hates China, then why is China trying to follow "western norms"? Chinese people know almost nothing about Pakistan, but Pakistan respects China. maybe China needs to start learning and practicing Pakistani culture.
Hulk:
WUMAO FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!! WUMAO FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not every soldier is a Christian, and Jesus never told soldiers to stop being Christians. He told them to be content with their pay, and not to cheat anyone. If anyone cheats anyone, regardless of their religion, they're nutbags. Oh wait, Chinese people love cheating............. LOL WUMAO FAIL SO BAD
