I love Christmas time, but Christmas is not as big a holiday in China as it is in America. This used to really bother me. But I realized that I may not be able to go to a mall and enjoy the Christmas spirit (most places that have Christmas decorations tend to keep them up all year round), but I can have a bit of Christmas cheer in my own home.
In more recent years, many areas of China do decorate more for Christmas, but it’s still quite different from America. So I have created my own Christmas traditions.
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to put up my Christmas tree sometime at the end of November or the beginning of December. And putting up the tree alone is basically a crime. Over the years, I have decorated my tree with friends or with students, and it’s always a wonderful time.
I dig out my Christmas tree from its spot on top of my wardrobe and the tub of decorations that I hide in plain sight under my dining table. Storage space is a bit limited, but I don’t mind. I love my apartment. Then we turn the table sideways to make room for the tree between the couch and the table.
I turn on Christmas music and hand around Santa hats. Sometimes I think the students feel a bit silly wearing the hats, but I’m glad they humor me anyway!
Next, I show the students how to fluff out the branches of the tree, and then we put the lights on the tree—starting at the inside and then working our way out so that the tree is full of light. After we get the tree fluffed and the lights on, we’re ready for the decorations. One time, years ago, I bought a bunch of red and silver balls, so we hang those all over the tree. I also have several special ornaments including an M&M scene with two M&Ms looking at the chimney where Santa’s feet have just touched down. I also have a wooden star and a wooden nativity from my parents or grandparents. My grandparents have given me ornaments every year for most of my life, but most of those are still in America.
After all the ornaments are on, I put a bright red tablecloth under the tree. I remember buying the tablecloth the same year I bought the red and silver balls. I had to walk all over the Christmas decoration street looking for this tablecloth. That was the year that I learned the word for tablecloth (桌布, zhuo bu). I finally found this velvety material, and it’s just perfect for my Christmas tree skirt.
The last step is the star. I have a silver star that’s quite nice. I don’t know why the star always seems so special, but I make a big deal about the star and I let one of the students put the star on the tree.
Last, we take lots of pictures with the tree. We ooh and ahh over the tree with the living room lights on and off. It really is a nice tree even with the broken branch.
The decorating never takes quite as long as I expect, so we still have time for tea, snacks, and games. But everything feels more festive with the Christmas tree lights in the background.
Here in the south of China, we don’t get any snow, and the weather isn’t very cold (I don’t mind too much anymore—it’s nice to enjoy the sunshine), but I love my little piece of Christmas in my home with my cranberry apple candle that adds even more Christmas cheer to my little space. Enjoying a nice hot cup of cinnamon orange tea tops it off as I sit with my Advent book, looking forward to Christmas and enjoying the beauty of the season and what it means for all of us.