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Q: Got any fun ideas for Christmas? I got one.
Most Chinese don't really understand Christmas too well. I found the simplest holidays that Chinese understand are things like Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving because the simple meaning is easily transferred. Love and being thankful for whatever...
Most Chinese just think Christmas is about Jesus and his birthday... they don't understand some of the more fun parts of Christmas like a stack of presents under the tree and not knowing what they are. So it doesn't really interest them much other than shopping and KTV. I came up with an idea for me and my wife to try and help her understand the feeling behind Christmas (that I miss!).
We are doing a 12 days of Christmas. Basically, that means we decorate the apartment and get each other 12 secret gifts and open up one each day. They should be wrapped and the ones opened from the 14-18th are small and non-expensive, 18-24th are medium and maybe cost a little more and the 25th is the most expensive and thoughtful. All put under the tree and can't be opened any earlier.
This is just meant to try bring out the feelings of anticipation, excitement, surprise and thoughtfulness for what you think the other person would enjoy. Just something to do for fun.
I was thinking about bringing her to a church just in the evening of Christmas eve. I am not religious but it is something new and an experience.
Are any of you doing anything interesting or any fun ideas for Christmas? Any ideas on how to help Chinese have a more authentic Christmas experience other than singing songs at KTV in a Santa hat?
10 years 22 weeks ago in Arts & Entertainment - China
We have never had a white Christmas so maybe next year we will take the kids to China for that .
this year I bought the kids a metal detector so they will be treasure hunting on the beach most of the day
Hey a thumbs up for that idea. Christmas anticipation! Nice touch Robk. I don't have a Chinese partner but I was looking at having a traditional Christmas dinner, invite some colleagues who are all ffrom the USA and will be leaving at term's end but also invite a couple of close Chinese friends so that they can see how we prepare and serve a western Christmas meal. My Chrissy parcel included Santa serviettes!
I mean for an Aussie to have a white Christmas 2 years running is just the ant's pants.
Admin: How about adding some Christmas emoticons!!!???
derek:
My Christmas Dinner is on the 21st...hope you can make it "DaqingDevil". hehe
We're doing the 24 days of Christmas, a small gift each day for my wife. This is a thing that my parents did when I was a child and I am introducing to my wife (third year now) so we can carry that on to our children we have those.
It is messed up how difficult it is to find 24 small inexpensive gifts without a daily "Is it chocolate again" comment prior to opening the gift.
Note: The 12 days of Christmas: see this http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IzB0r1qUQzo to do the 12 days correctly you need to sacrifice something
Robk:
I already do/did sacrifice something in China... my sanity lol.
Make sure everyone knows the reason for the season and you need to do your best to forcibly convert everyone you know or meet to Christianity
Thats the meaning of Christmas
Robk:
Not really... I look at Christmas as being in three parts...
One is the Christian part....
Second is the commercial part...
Third is the magical miraculous part...
Seems like a lot of people only understand the first two... which is really sad. I mean I feel pity for those people. They will never understand the feelings of anticipation, surprise, understanding that anything can happen and that Christmas is a time when you should put down all barriers and vendettas and just be kind, thoughtful and generous.
To me Christmas is a feeling of excitement and anticipation, magic and wonder and back home you can feel it in the streets at this time of year as something so palpable you can almost touch it, and not knowing how to truly recreate that for my wife outside of a country where it is celebrated by all, but still wishing to give her that exciting, magical feeling I miss so much, i've ordered a half a pound of crack cocaine that i'm going to surprise her with on Christmas morning, and i'm going to do so dressed in nothing but a Santa hat and.....wait for it......some stockings!.
Robk:
Well, she certainly will have a magical feeling...
Or a horrible trip if you buy some cheap stuff...
Either way... A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER! HURRAAAY!
mArtiAn:
Good gracious, i'm only joking you know! Crack cocaine on Christmas morning??? With a small child to take care of and family to entertain?? Lord no, we're actually going to have a very normal, family get-together, with 'It's a Wonderful Life' on the video, egg-nog and seasonal treats and some crackers to pull at the dinner table, followed by an early night for an exhausted little one and some mulled wine with the wife as we settle down for an evening of warm fires and some light bondage.
Red_Fox:
Got the joke about the coke. But you, my man, adorned ONLY in a Santa hat and stockings (Christmissy red ones from Victoria's Secret, I'll bet) with moobs and beer belly going' bouncy-bouncy between the two, well, I just gotta say, you just might bring Christmas to a standstill, maybe even kill the spirit... or you just might make the cover page (and centerfold) of December's issue of WalMartian...
Bring out the old Polaroid and send us a snapshot, willya? No, wait. Don't.
mArtiAn:
I'm gonna 'drink' the spirit of Christmas with my stockinged feet up.
Robk:
I know it's a joke, or at least I hope so. Did I sound serious?
If it isn't a joke, I got the NARCs coming for ya!
My roommates decorated our apartment and covered it head to toe in Christmas decorations. So even though there isn't much Christmas cheer outside, went you step over that threshold, you can feel the Christmas vibe. We're also doing secret santa between the 4 of us which adds a little something.
Robk:
Yeah, the secret Santa is a good one. I got a nice sweater from an African American one year. She had good taste!
Red_Fox:
@Robk: Curious... Why the mention of African American? Something significant about an African American giving you a sweater? Innocent question, bro.
(BTW, your 12 days of Christmas is brilliant. No time this year, but next year definitely. Cheers and Merry Xmas!)
Robk:
No reason really, the sweater was a hoodie with a sort of hip-hop feel to it. I am just pointing out that black girls have excellent taste in clothing. I have never dated one but usually when my girl friend buys clothes for me, I don't like much.
I have never had a girl buy clothes for me besides my mother and my ex girl friends or my wife... obviously... it would be weird if a girl did... So this one a secret Santa exception, but my secret meaning is this:
- Date a black girl and you will be certain she will get you clothes that will enhance your style, just do it okay?
Bah humbug!
Youse (Fenechism) can all go and get stuffed!
Robk:
Hey guy,
No problem! Two weeks and some ghosts will visit you and then you will buy me a nice huge turkey!
That's the way scrooge rolls, son.
royceH:
Yeah?? Well at least I'll get to enjoy the metaphysical experience!
The guilt and shame are with me always...so I drink. Then I feel guilt and shame, and so on...
royceH:
Goodonyer Devil. I reckon Jeff Fenech was just about Australia's greatest ever boxer. Fighter might be a more a more approprieate handle. Azumah Nelson was the boxer..and how he didn't lose that fight to the Marrickville Mauler, nobody will ever know!
If you have a group of people, the gift giving game White Elephant or Yankee Swap is a fun way to spend an evening.
You think Chinese think Christmas is about Jesus? Most have no clue about Jesus, what they know is Santa because that is what all the stores are pushing to give discounts and encourage shopping.
Scandinavian:
but Christmas is not about Jesus. Historical Jesus wasn't born in December. Christianity is just tagging along on a old heathen tradition.
Robk:
Well they think it is... they don't know anything about him but they do know of them... not all but quite a lot... the rest just kind of turn it into a shopping/KTV/romantic day...
Because that's what they understand best lol
Nessquick:
chinese chritmass is about nice packed pink apple with heart watermark and expensive dinning that eve...
Please, why the devil should they understand Christmas? They are about 1/3 of the world's population and they are not Christian to any large degree and frankly there is no reason for them to understand Christmas.
Do they understand Water Splashing Day (seriously) in your country? How about Tomb Sweeping Day? Or how about Dragon Boat Festival Day?
When in Rome....
Robk:
Well, I don't really think they all will. I am just focusing on my wife for now since she is the one that I will be spending my holidays with and my life.
It would be nice if she didn't have a dull look on her face when I mention Christmas is coming and sort of share in some of the joy. It's like when she says Spring Festival, I kind of enjoy it because I know the routine and the fun parts about it.
