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Q: Are you ok with Chinese adapting Western holidays?
When I saw how many decorations were put up for Christmas, from trees to life size dancing santas, I thought, ok, I can understand. After all, Christmas tends to be a beautiful holiday, who wouldn't want that? They completely missed the original meaning of Christmas, but that's also understandable. When I heard about Valentine's Day, well, that was commercialized to begin with so more power to them. When I heard that they liked the idea of Thanksgiving, at first I was confused, but when I heard it was because they like the meaning of "thanksgiving" and the idea of getting together with family, I was ok with that too. But when I heard of them using Easter, I was very confused and a little bothered, actually. Yes, there is a commercial side to Easter, but we all know that's just for the kids. Easter is still an obviously religious holiday, at least where I'm from, so I don't really understand why...?
So I guess my question is, what holidays would you think are too ridiculous to adapt to Chinese culture? Actually, I guess there aren't really any other major holidays left? Are there any Chinese holidays you'd like to have in your home country? I wouldn't mind having several weeks off like at Spring Festival, although that comes with its own problems.
I think it would be funny if China started celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Or even better, the US's 4th of July. I could actually see the latter happen as it's another excuse to light of fireworks.
As for Chinese holidays back home, people already celebrate Chinese new year which I think is enough.
The holidays in China hold no significance to me, mainly because I'm not a big fan of holidays in China to begin with. I don't use a lunar calendar, so I find it annoying that the dates change every year and normally, I like to relax and do things I like on holidays, but in China, holidays usually mean explosions until 5am and everything is closed. When I first came here, it was new and exciting, but now it's "oh boy... holidays in China... Where can I get a plane ticket?"
Hogmanay, New Year's Eve, is the biggest holiday in my country, it's more important than Christmas to many people. So, we organised a Hogmanay party (well, going to a local bar that stocks whisky). On the day itself we were asked if we wouldn't mind moving the date back two weeks as it was now inconvenient! It was the same with Christmas day, they moved it to suit the school's schedule, meaning the Western staff didn't get their proper day off to phone family/friends back home. Personally, I don't expect my holidays to be respected in China. Being asked to give a talk on Thanksgiving Day was an odd one, I've no idea what American families actually celebrate -- it's just not a worldwide holiday.
I can see your point about easter, although a home a lot of kids are taught more about the easter bunny than about Jesus!
As far as my own holidays go... Australia has two major, specific days: Australia Day and Anzac Day (also for Kiwis). I wouldn't really mind attempting them trying to do something for Australia Day, although actually most people chill out in the sun with a good barbecue, good beer and good weather and none of those are available where I live!
Anzac Day is a different story; it's a commeroration of Australia/NZ's involvement in former and current wars and of war casualties, and there's NO WAY I'd want anyone else to try and cut in on that.
The only holiday I would really accept a foreign culture accepting would be NYE.
As Jnus said in her OP, the original meaning of Christmas and Easter is lost on them - you know, the Winter Solstice, and Spring Equinox!! All those trees and mistletoes...to represent the on-going power of life, even in the darkest times, and the rabbits and eggs to represent the ever strong power of life to keep on growing....
Why don't we celebrate Diwali - Festival of Light? The Day of the Dead? Hannukah?
I DO think that, as teachers (for those who are), we should make our students aware of such dates, and their significance - such as Jan 26, Feb 6, July 1, July 4... and others like April 25, and Nov 11 (that last one, really, should be big in EVERYONE'S calender!!! And, tell people why! No, not 'singles day'...).
I'd also throw in June 20/21...
But, the flip-side to this discussion, in chatting with some of my students, they feel that some of their traditional holidays no longer have any meaning, and don't see the point to having them.
For the most part no, but I would be very offended if they celebrated Victoria Day.
Jnus, did you say they missed the original meaning of Christmas? 
My guess is you have no idea of the original meaning. Their ideas are just about as accurate as yours. All holidays are worthless and a racket, IMO. I don't need anyone to tell me when give a gift to my friend or love my wife or be thankful for the good things in my life. I don't need anyone to tell me when to spend my money and what to buy. Most holidays are not what the majority of people think they are and they were originated in a far different spirit. In my life, every day is a holiday.
