Christmas in East Asia

As I celebrated Christmas just a few weeks ago, I wondered how Christmas was celebrated in East Asia. Is it a commercial day like it is here? Is there a Santa and a Christmas tree? Do they open their presents at midnight like most Latinos do or in the morning like most Americans? Well, I investigated it and found out that in China, Christian children trees were decorated 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 the holiday season as the Spring Festival. Children receive new clothes and toys, eat delicious food and enjoy firework displays and crackers.
In Hong Kong, 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. Christmas coincides with the Ta Chiu, the Taoist festival of peace and renewal which is observed on December 27. The participants will call on all the deities and spirits so that their collective power will renew their lives. By the end of the festival, priests will read aloud the names of the residents in the area from a list, then attach the list to a paper horse before burning it, sending the names on to heaven... pretty interesting, huh?
Christians constitute only 1% of the 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 Christians 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 seen more as a commercial season, a time for romance between couples and for corporations to deck their offices in lights. December is also a time for oseibo (end-of-the-year gift exchanges between companies) and boukenkai (”forget the year”) parties, and Christmas-themed parties tend to get mixed in with the celebrations.
South Korea recognizes Christmas as a public holiday, with 30% of the population being Christians. Even non-Christian Koreans engage in gift-giving, card-sending, and plastic tree-decorating at this time of year, and engaging lights beautify the City Hall area for people to enjoy. What’s surprising is the locals treat the season to be a romantic affair, much like Valentine’s Day.
(http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-world/east-asia.html)

It's so interesting to see how different countries and cultures celebrate Christmas 8-)

Happy Holidays!![Edit by="dmunoz on Jan 5, 10:08:14 PM"][/Edit]