Oriental Christmas

A feature writing for Harrow Observer

Oriental Christmas

by Yixiang Zeng

CHRISTMAS is one of the most popular holidays in western countries. It is a time for family members to get together and enjoy the kingship as much as they can.

This year’s Christmas is just around the corner now, Londoner are enthusiastically preparing for everything, searching gifts, setting up Christmas lights, and decorating Christmas trees. The city has already immersed herself in a festive atmosphere. 

Interestingly, not only is the Christmas nowadays celebrated in the West, but also fashionably sweeps the oriental countries, such as South Korea. 

Lee Jane Nae Ryung, a South Korean girl currently studying at Harrow Campus, University of Westminster, has talked about how she was celebrating Christmas back home. 

“Christmas is just such a wonderful time for me, it is a national holiday in my country and many Koreans are Christians, so Christmas is very important for us.” Jane said with a great excitement. 

“My whole family, including my brother, sister and my parents are spending the whole day together, and Korean people are very family-oriented.”  

“We went to the local church – Onnuri around 8am, and follow the pastor to pray – firstly pray for the world, then the nation, finally our family, afterwards if we want to be totally relaxed, the best choice is go for Sauna.” 

Jane explains that during the Christmas Eve, she also goes to the same church meeting her friends and other local youngsters, they are enjoying playing games such as “Secret Friends” to exchange gifts and best wishes, singing songs together with church band, and chatting, joking around with friends until late evening.  

She and her peers were doing volunteer works during whole Christmas period, such as taking care of orphans, helping around in the village hospitals, or donating to the poor. 

Jane is quite enjoying her student life in London, but she is still eagerly looking forward to going back home: “You know, I will be extremely happy to share my experiences here with my family, especially during Christmas.” 

South Korean’s family-oriented drive is strongly reflected during the holiday period, whereas Chinese residing in north-west of London is celebrating it in a variety of ways. 

A healthcare service San Sheng Tang Herbs & Acupuncture in Pinner, run by a Chinese therapist Tony Guan, introduced that during the Christmas period his shop will be serving the free therapy consultation for disabled people and senior citizens every Wednesday afternoon.

For him Christmas is not only a period for relaxation, but also a time to do some charity work, to promote traditional Chinese treatment. “As a Chinese therapist, I do feel I have the obligation to develop my own culture.” 

Mr. Guan and his wife have living in London for a couple of years now, his family love travelling, such as a Christmas visit to Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent last year. “The trip was wonderful, we especially enjoyed the city’s peaceful surroundings and the beauty of tranquillity.
 
“My wife and I also gradually believe in God in recent years, during Christmas we attend local church service, and pray for our families, friends, also the prosperity of our business.” 

Mr. Guan still keeps himself being a traditional Chinese food addict, “On the Christmas Eve, we usually have dinner with our friends in China Town, we chat in Mandarin and eat tasty food, the warm atmosphere makes me really feel like home.” 

While the Chinese like Mr. Guan an his family enjoying Christmas in London, the youngsters within China have discovered other charisma of this increasingly popular day.  

“We do not have official Christmas holiday, but it is definitely an excellent excuse for friends to meet up, shopping together for the good sales.” Mingzhu Chen said, a fashionable Shanghaies.  

“Or many couples just use it as another Valentine’s Day, restaurants usually promote special food items on 25th.” 

Is Christmas hurricane a good sign for the Asian to embrace multiculturalism and speed up its globalisation process? Prof. Michel Hockx from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, gives his opinion on Asian Christmas trend phenomenon. “Asian country, especially China, embracing Christmas mainly because of the commercial reason, people are motivated by its stocking gifts, company goods promotion, it is hugely influenced by American commercial value, though to some extend, it does reflect some cultural integrating element."