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Christmas Celebrations in Asia
Relatively small numbers of Christians live in the
countries of Asia, and so Christmas is not widely
celebrated there. In areas where Christmas is
observed, people follow such Western customs as
attending religious services, decorating Christmas
trees, giving presents, and singing carols.
Christians in China celebrate by lighting their
houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating
their Christmas trees, which they call "Trees of
Light," with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper
lanterns. Chinese Children hang muslin stockings and
await a visit from Santa Claus, whom they call Dun
Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run) which means
"Christmas Old Man." Since the vast majority of the
Chinese people are not Christian, the main winter
festival in China is the Chinese New Year, which
takes place toward the end of January. Now
officially called the "Spring Festival," it is a
time when children receive new clothing, eat
luxurious meals, receive new toys, and enjoy
firecracker displays. An important aspect of the New
Year celebration is the worship of ancestors.
Portraits and paintings of ancestors are brought out
and hung in the main room of the home.
St. Nicholas is especially popular in Russia. The
legend is that the 11th-century Prince Vladimir
traveled to Constantinople to be baptized, and
returned with stories of miracles performed by St.
Nicholas of Myra. Since then many Eastern Orthodox
Churches have been named for the saint, and to this
day, Nicholas is one of the most common names for
Russian boys. The feast of St. Nicholas (December 6)
was observed for many centuries, but after the
communist revolution, the celebration of the feast
was suppressed.
In Japan, Christians are a minority, yet the popular
aspects of Christmas are increasingly seen. Gifts
are exchanged, lights decorate business districts,
and department stores often display Christmas trees.
Even Santa
Claus makes his appearance in the crowded
stores.
Because India is mainly Hindu and Moslem, there is
no official celebration of Christmas. However, this
time of year is looked upon as an appropriate time
for gift-giving and tipping or giving "baksheesh,"
charitable hand-outs to the poor of the country.
Christians in India decorate mango or banana trees
at Christmas time. Sometimes they also decorate
their houses with mango leaves. In some parts of
India, small clay oil-burning lamps are used as
Christmas decorations; they are placed on the edges
of flat roofs and on the tops of walls. Churches are
decorated with poinsettias and lit with candles for
the Christmas Even service.
In the Philippines, people attend Misas de Gallo
(Masses of the Cock), which are celebrated early
each morning the nine days before Christmas. On
Christmas Eve, Filipinos parade through the streets
carrying colorful star-shaped lanterns called parols.
These lanterns are also displayed in the windows of
most homes.
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