Christmas in China 2018 -Know about China

At Christmas in China, you'll see many of the same decorations up. Most decorations are made in China anyway!

Christmas has been steadily gaining popularity in mainland China in the last two decades. In the biggest cities, it has been a big commercial success and a newly adopted festive tradition. However, most people in China do not celebrate as people do in the West...

How People in China Celebrate Christmas

Most Chinese people do not celebrate Christmas at all. This is especially true in rural and minority areas, where Western and Christian influence are negligible. Christmas is not a public holiday in mainland China.

The commercial Christmas has become a major annual event in the major cities in China. On the streets and in department stores, there are Christmas trees, lights, and decorations. You'll hear Christmas music playing from the end of November, over the noise of the crowds shopping for Christmas season promotions. A Chinese "Father Christmas" (圣诞老人 Shèngdàn Lǎorén /shnng-dan laoww-rnn/) helps to make the scene complete.

Most Chinese people who celebrate Christmas do so as a happy occasion for get-togethers of friends, relatives, and couples. Christmas parties might be held at a friend's house, McDonald's, a karaoke cafe, restaurant, or bar. There is a festive atmosphere, and people enjoy the decorations and unusual music. Many younger Chinese see it as a romantic holiday for couples to exchange gifts and date.

Chinese Christians

Wangfujing Church in Beijing

China's Christians (only 1% of the population officially) generally celebrate Christmas religiously, sometimes more so than in the West.

While most Chinese people don't realize that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ or attach any religious significance to the (foreign) festivities, many of China's Christians celebrate Christmas as the top event of the year, outranking even Chinese New Year, preparing songs and activities weeks before. Christians in China celebrate by going to special church services, which are typically packed to capacity. On Christmas Eve, there are choral performances, and the congregation puts on dance and drama performances. It is called ‘Peaceful Evening' (Ping'an Ye 平安夜 from the translation of the carol "Silent Night"). Carol singing in the streets is rarely seen, though it's popular in Christian's houses, where the karaoke machine, ever popular in China, may be employed.

How to Say "Merry Christmas" in Chinese

圣诞快乐！ Shèngdàn kuàilè! /shnng-dan kwhy-ler/ 'Holy-birth happy!'

The Top Three Chinese Christmas Songs

Apart from (classic) English carols and pop songs the Chinese songs you are most likely to hear playing are the Chinese versions (to the same tunes) of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", "Silent Night", and "Jingle Bells". Lyrics in characters and pinyin, and literal translations, are shown below.

Women Zhu Ni Shengdan Kuaile — 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'

我们祝你圣诞快乐 Wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè We wish you a merry Christmas 我们祝你圣诞快乐 wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè We wish you a merry Christmas 我们祝你圣诞快乐 wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè We wish you a merry Christmas 祝你新年快乐 Zhù nǐ xīnnián kuàilè Wishing you a happy New Year

把新讯带到 Bǎ xīn xùn dài dào Take the news 每一个角落 Měi yīgè jiǎoluò To every corner 把新年的新讯 Bǎ xīnnián de xīn xùn Take the New Year news 带给你们和我 Dài gěi nǐmen hé wǒ To you and me

把星星带到 Bǎ xīngxīng dài dào Take stars 每一个角落 Měi yīgè jiǎoluò To every corner 把新年的心绪 Bǎ xīnnián de xīn xù Take the New Year new mood 带给你们和我 Dài gěi nǐmen hé wǒ To you and me

Ping'an Ye — 'Silent Night'

An unusual apple eating tradition has evolved in the country. "Ping" in the word apple (苹果 píngguǒ /ping-gwor/) sounds like the word "peace" in Mandarin, so people eat apples.

平安夜 圣善夜 Píng'ān yè shèngshàn yè Peaceful night holy night 万暗中 光华射 Wàn àn zhōng guānghuá shè In the darkness glory shone 照着圣母也 Zhàozhe shèngmǔ yě On the holy mother and 照着圣婴 zhàozhe shèng yīng on the holy child 多少慈祥也 Duōshǎo cíxiáng yě So much mercy and 多少天真 duōshǎo tiānzhēn so much heavenly truth 静享天赐安眠 Jìng xiǎng tiāncì ānmián Quietly enjoys heavenly rest 静享天赐安眠 Jìng xiǎng tiāncì ānmián Quietly enjoys heavenly rest

平安夜 圣善夜 Píng'ān yè shèngshàn yè Peaceful night holy night 牧羊人 在旷野 Mùyáng rén zài kuàngyě Shepherds in the wilderness 忽然看见了 Hūrán kànjiànle Suddenly saw 天上光华 tiānshàng guānghuá heavenly glory 听见天军唱 Tīngjiàn tiān jūn chàng Heard the heavenly host sing 哈利路亚 hālìlùyà "Hallelujah"  救主今夜降生 jiù zhǔ jīnyè jiàngshēng The Savior tonight is born 救主今夜降生 jiù zhǔ jīnyè jiàngshēng The Savior tonight is born

平安夜 圣善夜 Píng'ān yè shèngshàn yè Peaceful night holy night 神子爱 光皎洁 Shénzi ài guāng jiǎojié God's Son love's light shines 救赎宏恩的 Jiùshú hóng ēn di Redeeming grace's 黎明来到 límíng lái dào dawn has come 圣容发出来 Shèng róng fà chūlái The holy face emanates 荣光普照 róngguāng pǔzhào glory shining 耶稣我主降生 Yēsū wǒ Zhǔ jiàngshēng Jesus my Lord is born 耶稣我主降生 Yēsū wǒ Zhǔ jiàngshēng Jesus my Lord is born

Dingding Dang — "Jingle Bells"

穿过大风雪 Chuānguo dà fēng xuě Through the wind and snow 我们坐在雪橇上 Wǒmen zuò zài xuěqiāo shàng We ride on a sleigh 飞奔过田野 Fēi bēnguò tiányě Flying over the fields 我们欢笑又歌唱 Wǒmen huānxiào yòu gēchàng We all laugh and sing 马儿铃声响 Mǎ'er língshēng xiǎng Horse's bells ringing 令人心欢畅 Lìng rénxīn huānchàng Makes our hearts joyful 我们今夜滑雪 Wǒmen jīnyè huáxuě Tonight we're sleighing 真快乐 Zhēn kuàilè so happily 把滑雪歌儿唱 Bǎ huáxuě gē'er chàng singing a sleighing song

叮叮当叮叮当 Dīngdīng dāng dīngdīng dāng Ding-a-ling ding-a-ling 铃儿响叮当 Líng'er xiǎng dīngdāng Bells ring ding-a-ling 我们今夜多快乐 Wǒmen jīnyè duō kuàilè Tonight we are so happy 坐在雪橇上 Zuò zài xuěqiāo shàng Riding on a sleigh 叮叮当叮叮 Dīngdīng dāng dīngdīng dāng Ding-a-ling ding-a-ling 当铃儿响叮当 Líng'er xiǎng dīngdāng Bells ring ding-ling 我们今夜多快乐 Wǒmen jīnyè duō kuàilè We tonight are so happy 坐在雪橇上 Zuò zài xuěqiāo shàng Riding on a sleigh