Christmas in China

[First published Dec. 24, 2014] "There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy, when they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie."

For more than thirty years, I was the "they" in that lyric. This Christmas I have sent no Christmas cards, baked no shortbread, put up no lights, and I've spent maybe ten minutes on Christmas shopping. So how do you get that Christmassy feeling in China?

It's not that hard. The middle class here has embraced the holiday and -- no surprise -- so have the stores and restaurants. Christmas music plays non-stop at the local mall, not just the secular stuff like Jingle Bells, but lots of religious songs as well, which rather surprises me. 

There's a great big Christmas tree at the mall and lots of garlands and pictures of Santa everywhere. After all, China is the source of the world's Christmas decorations. 

And if all that wasn't enough to put me in the Christmas mood, I happen to live with Santa Claus!  My husband Ross has taken up Kris Kringle's duties in this part of Zibo. Here he is at a children's talent show (bless his heart, getting down on one knee with his bad knees).

Of course when he walks through the campus in costume, he's stopped for photos like the celebrity he is. 

We're not going to have a White Christmas, but it is cold enough. We're all wearing our coats and mittens in the classroom, so I tried to warm things up a bit by playing a fireplace video on the monitors. Today (Christmas Eve) many of my students gave me a cute little paper gift box with an apple inside. They've taken "an apple for the teacher" and turned it into a Christmas tradition here. I've got a lot of apples, some pretty handmade artificial flowers, and many cute and warm notes from my students. 

Tomorrow is not a holiday in China, but in the interests of cultural exchange, I'm showing my students "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  The Boris Karloff cartoon, that is, not the Jim Carrey movie. And afterwards, we'll be Skype-ing with family and friends.

So from Ross and me to you and yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Yahoo Fores Dahoo Dores
Welcome Christmas Come this way
Fahoo Fores Dahoo Dores
Welcome Christmas, Christmas day
Welcome, welcome fahoo ramus
Welcome, welcome dahoo damus
Christmas day is in our grasp,
So long as we have hands to clasp
Fahoo fores dahoo dores
Welcome Christmas bring your cheer
Fahoo fores dahoo dores
Welcome all Whos far and near...
Fahoo Fores Dahoo Dores
Welcome Christmas bring your light
Fahoo Fores Dahoo Dores
Welcome in the cold dark night
Welcome Christmas fahoo ramus
Welcome Christmas dahoo damus
Welcome Christmas while we stand,
Heart to Heart and Hand in Hand....

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