While the streets, shopping malls, and social media in China were abuzz with Christmas cheer during the 2020 Christmas season, Christians living there were not free to celebrate the holiday, which is rooted in their religious beliefs.
International Christian Concern, an international watchdog group, reported that police in the Chinese city of Xiamen prevented Christians from performing Christmas songs at the local Wanda Plaza shopping center on Christmas Eve. The local Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau and State Security Bureau also sent staff to ensure that Christian performances were canceled.
Meanwhile, an application for a Christmas Mass submitted to Chinese authorities by the Catholic Church in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, has been widely circulated online. The application, stamped with multiple official seals, proves that even officially registered churches have a difficult time holding Christmas religious events, requiring approval from at least 12 agencies.
Another image circulating online shows a line of police officers with bomb-proof equipment standing in front of a Catholic church in Beijing with Christmas decorations.
In addition to restrictions on religious activities, Chinese authorities have tried to boycott Christmas on a cultural level, claiming that “celebrating foreign holidays” is an abandonment of traditional Chinese culture.
In January 2017, the Chinese government issued a document calling for the “revitalization of traditional Chinese culture. Shortly thereafter, education bureaus in many Chinese provinces issued instructions for schools to “refrain from celebrating Western holidays” such as Christmas. According to the Associated Press, at least four cities and one county in China have issued bans on Christmas decorations.
During this year’s Christmas season, Shenzhen University issued a notice to its staff asking them to prohibit students from holding Christmas events, posting Christmas flyers or displaying Christmas decorations on campus, according to the Ecumenical Christian Care Mission.
However, many Chinese people do not agree that Christmas culture conflicts with traditional Chinese culture. During this year’s Christmas season, “Chinese costumes” with Christmas elements have appeared in the Chinese market, sparking a heated debate on whether the two cultures are in conflict or converging.
In China, Christmas has largely been stripped of its religious connotations and has become a highly commercialized holiday. By creating a Christmas atmosphere, promoting the concept of “Christmas shopping season” and using various promotional tools, businesses have created a consumer frenzy. China is also one of the most important links in the international industry chain around Christmas, with about 80% of Christmas decorations in the United States coming from China.
In addition, many Chinese people, especially the younger generation, use Christmas as an opportunity to have fun, reunite and pass on their blessings.
These factors make Christmas a popular holiday in China despite the government’s crackdown on both religious and cultural aspects.
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