Christmas in China

Santa Mao
Santa Mao

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Christmas! Christmas !! What a beautiful word.  It reminds all of us (I hope so) of happy times with our family and friends. But have you ever spent a Christmas festival in China?

I have!  So what could I tell you about Christmas in  China? This is like Halloween in France  Boring !!!

One thing is missing: true joy!

Christmas sounds fake in China!

Chinese  Christmas “celebration”

They celebrate December 24 in nightclubs or at KTV drinking with friends.

Let’s have a look at the saddest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen. This was made with beer bottles 🙁

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christmas tree with beer bottles
Christmas tree with beer bottles

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Other Chinese are more romantic, and would stay with their chosen one for a second Valentine’s day. Why not…

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In the streets, you will see very few Christmas decorations, except where foreigners live. Maybe you will find a Santa Claus but not a credible one. Just have a look at this guy!  « Oh oh ohMerry christm… »

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Chinese wanabee santa claus
Chinese wannabee Santa Claus

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In Wuhan, they are discovered playing saxophone in a huge bobsleigh.  Since when Santa Claus plays Sax? Can anybody tell me?

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santa claus saxo
santa claus saxo

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To put it in a nutshell the fantasy of Christmas is missing. The capstone of irony is when you have to work from the 24th to the 25th of December …

By the way, there are no days off for Christmas in China.

Of course, you will see some Chinese Catholics celebrate but only the most religious that is to say very few. But if you wanna cry seeing the Chinese catholic mess it’s up to you…

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catholic chinese
catholics chinese

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Conclusion: China  Christmas is only for business in China as usual. In the biggest cities, foreign brands trying to export Christmas products will use marketing and communication tools. But we must acknowledge that Christmas is definitively not their culture, as Halloween is not ours. Retailers try to foster consumption and that is the only reason why you can see malls decorated in Beijing or  Shanghai. But as the Chinese New Year arrives 1 month later, the interest in gifts is reduced.

Nevertheless, Christmas means intense activity in China. As we all know China is the main producer of almost all of our items for Christmas.

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Santa Claus is a capitalist
Santa Claus is a capitalist

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Santa Clauss’ workshop was relocated to China.

Indeed China produces 75% of the toys sold in the West, 75% of Christmas decoration items, and 80% of artificial trees …

But you will only find these items in small merchant streets … but the atmosphere is a little … creepy.

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Everyone should now understand that you better be in a western country at this time.  So Merry Christmas to those who are already on the plane. For the lucky ones who will have to sing in an old Chinese KTV for Christmas eve what should I say? Good night and good luck.

And you what about being in China for Christmas?

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Just for you my special Christmas gift. I wish you a merry depression.

And don’t forget to send me a comment or I tell the Lonely man troll you want to celebrate Christmas with him in Shanghaï.

Lonely man

Aritcles translated and edited from marketing-chine.com

Author: Olivier Verot

Interpreter: Vicent Rejon

2 comments

  • Christmas in China is indeed more a commercial period than a really ” Christmas” period like in Europe, I mean , for the Chinese, it is like another day and maybe a day where you can make good opportunities on BtoC websites ( Taobao) .
    In Europe, the “commercial” side of this period is less heightened, insofar being with his family is much more important.

  • C’est tout a fait compréhensible et pardonnable non? Fêter le Noël en Chine n’est pas dans la vraie culture chinoise. Car c’est une fête qui n’existe pas dans le calendrier lunaire. La plus part des chinois n’ont pas cette culture et mentalité de père Noël et le dîner avec toute la famille. Ils le fêtent uniquement parce qu’ils trouvent que cette fête est très conviviale, que le monde entier le fête, donc pourquoi pas la Chine? Pour être plus simple, le Noël en occidental c’est comme le nouvel an chinois (fêter avec sa famille), le nouvel an occidental, c’est comme toutes les fêtes y compris le Noël en Chine (à part certaines comme 清明), le reste des fêtes, c’est juste une occasion pour sortir, d’où l’opportunité pour les commerçants, qui considèrent que les fêtes sont des “occasions commerciales” si on peut dire ça comme ça. Ps: peut être que c’est faut sur ce que que j’ai dit…

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