Christmas in China

Our Christmas Around the World tour continued today.  We traveled north from Australia to the continent of Asia and entered China.  Last year, we studied China when we read The Story About Ping.  So Old Crow was familiar with this location, but we also learned some new things.

The following was taken from Wikipedia:

In the People's Republic of China, December 25 is not a legal holiday. However, it is still designated as a public holiday in China's special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, both former colonies of Western powers with (nominal) Christian cultural heritage.

In the mainland, the small percentage of Chinese citizens who consider themselves Christians unofficially, and usually privately, observe Christmas.  Many other individuals celebrate Christmas-like festivities even though they do not consider themselves Christians. Many customs, including sending cards, exchanging gifts, and hanging stockings are very similar to Western celebrations.  Commercial Christmas decorations, signs, and other symbolic items have become increasingly prevalent during the month of December in large urban centers of mainland China, reflecting a cultural interest in this Western phenomenon, and, sometimes, retail marketing campaigns as well.

In Hong Kong, where Christmas is a public holiday and a major retail period, many buildings facing Victoria Harbour will be decked out in Christmas lights. Christmas trees are found in major malls and other public buildings, and in some homes as well, despite the small living area. Catholics in Hong Kong can attend Christmas Mass.

Old Crow colored a picture of a Chinese child dancing and playing an instrument.  At Christmas, the children often sing Christmas songs and dance.  He learned that Christian children also decorate trees with colorful ornaments, flowers, and lanterns.  They also hang stockings in hopes that "Christmas Old Man" will fill them with gifts.

We took our turn at making Chinese paper lanterns.  

We folded construction paper length wise and cut strips on the folded end...stopping about 1 inch from the top of the paper.

Once we had made the cuts he opened it up and decorated it with crayons.  

Then we curled it into a cylinder and glued/taped the ends together.  Hole punch 2 holes in the top and add yarn or string.

He wanted to make his cylinder different...the green one is the proper example. ;)

Here are more detailed lantern directions.

Then Old Crow completed his notebooking page for China and filed it away in his suitcase.

We had a rather short day in China, but tomorrow we head to Germany for a day packed with activities, books, fun, and food!!  

Sheng Dan Kuai Le,

Jenny