[vivismom]

Obviously China is not a Christian country, and obviously we will celebrate the Chinese New Year, but I am just wondering if there is any customs related to Christmas in China? Or if there is anything we can incorporate in our celebrations? Our family is Catholic, Mexican, American, AND Chinese and I would like to represent each culture somehow.

On a very superficial note, we do have about 10 ornaments we bought in China on our tree... but so far that is it...

[sak9645]

You might try going to a Chinese Christian church, if there is one in your area, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. While China regulates churches strictly, there are many Christians in the country; some use the authorized churches, while some worship in "underground" churches that get shut down from time to time by the government. And, of course, in Hong Kong, where there is freedom of religion, churches (as well as synagogues and mosques) are quite active.

Many Chinese people who are not Christian love Christmas as a secular holiday. They hang Christmas lights, decorate trees, put up Santa Claus images, and play Christmas music.

[specialk4b]

We also have ornaments that represent China on our tree. I think we do more at Christmas to celebrate his heritage of adoption than we do of his Chinese heritage. We will celebrate Chinese New Year and Moon Festival at other times in the year.

[Lissa]

On Christmas Eve, the Christian children in China fashion and hang stockings made of muslin for Dun Che Lao Ren, or "Christmas Old Man," to fill with gifts from the wicker basket he carries. Lanterns and paper chains are also decorated and hung on Christmas eve in order to to welcome Dun Che Lao Ren who is also referred to as Lan Khoong-Khoong, the "Nice Old Father".

Some traditional foods include Duck, Almond Cookies, Steamed Sponge Cake, Tea Eggs, Sesame Seed Balls and Red Bean Pancakes

Of those traditions we incorporate some of the foods. (This will be my first year trying duck...please pray for me!) We also decorate and decorate with paper chains. But really a lot of the Chinese traditions for Christmas our them emulating our Christmas traditions...so we also have Chinese ornaments on our tree. One of our traditions for the decorating though is we have Zhuang Love Ball that represents Lydia's ethnicity that she hangs every year on the tree. Only she is allowed to hang it...which she does with great pride.

[pgruodis]

90% of all the ornaments we've purchase over the last decade have little stickers with "Made in China" on them... Does that count?

[vivismom]

pgroutis: you made me smile.

Lissa: Thank you so much for mentioning typical recipes for me to try!!! I love to make new foods!!! Now I will look for the recipes (unless you hav any you'd like to share???)

Special K: YOu made a great point- it is the perfect time to celebrate his adoption..

And Sharon: we found a Catholic church in Chinatown and are going to check out their mass schedule. Thank you for the idea!