Why Christmas makes China go weak in the knees?

In prominent Chinese metropolises like Shanghai and Chongqing, dazzling Christmas displays captivate shoppers with giant trees adorned in lights, tinsel, and gift boxes. However, in numerous regions of China, extending season’s greetings becomes a delicate matter. In southwest Yunnan province, a property management company issued a notice to shopping mall tenants, urging them to abstain from selling Christmas cards and presents and even avoid hanging decorations. The reasoning was rooted in the belief that foreign traditions should not be followed “blindly,” emphasizing the importance of confidence in one’s own culture. Schools in cities spanning from Dongguan in the south to Harbin in the northeast echoed a similar sentiment, calling on students and parents to be cautious about adopting foreign traditions without thoughtful consideration. Meanwhile, in Gansu province in China’s northwest, a local branch of the Communist Youth League encouraged members to celebrate “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” a 2021 Chinese film depicting a significant clash between the Chinese People’s Voluntary Army and U.S. forces during the Korean War. Although Christianity is not explicitly banned in China, it, like other permitted religions, faces strict management and governance due to concerns about “foreign influences.” Christmas Day is not a public holiday in mainland China, where Buddhism and Taoism hold prominence, and ancestral worship remains a common practice, aligning with the officially atheist stance of the ruling Communist Party. Wang Huning, the fourth-ranked member of the party’s powerful Politburo Standing Committee, emphasized the need for Christian groups to “adhere to the direction of the sinicisation of Christianity.” This involves interpreting doctrines and rules in alignment with contemporary China’s development, core socialist values, and the nation’s rich traditions and culture. The Vatican has had longstanding disagreements with Beijing, particularly regarding China’s unilateral appointment of bishops in a country with approximately 12 million Catholics. Recent incidents, such as the presence of police officers by a Christmas tree outside a church in Langfang, reflect varying approaches to Christmas celebrations. In 2018, Langfang implemented a blanket ban on public Christmas displays and related items to “maintain social stability.” (with inputs from the Reuters)