Feeling-- blank
Reading-- After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros
Listening to-- nothing

Today's selection for my Christmas countdown comes from the Christmas Treasury anthology I kifed--erm, "inherited"--from Mom. *attempts to straighten halo atop her lil red horns, putting on her best angelic face*

Christmas In China
by Sarah ToastThe small number of Christians in China call Christmas Sheng Dan Jieh, which means "Holy Birth Festival." They decorate their homes with everygreens, posters and bright paper chains. The family puts up a Christmas tree, called "tree of light," and decorates it with beautiful lanterns, flowers and red paper chains that symbolizes happiness. They cut out red pagodas to paste on the windows, and they light their houses with paper lanterns too.

Many Chinese enjoy the fun and color that Christmas brings to the drab winter season. Big cities like Bejing, Shanghai and Hong Kong are gaily decorated at Christmas. Many people give parties on Christmas Eve, and some people enjoy a big Christmas dinner at a restaurant. Shops sell plastic trees and Christmas decorations for everyone to enjoy, and Santa Claus is a popular good-luck figure.

The Christmas season is ushered in with fireworks. Jugglers and acrobats entertain, and people enjoy the merriment and feasting. In Hong Kong, which was recently restored to Chinese rule, Christmas Day is just one of 17 public holidays. At this time of year, people in Hong Kong also celebrate Ta Chiu, a festival of peace and renewal, by making offerings to saints and reading the names of everyone who lives in the area.

On Christmas Eve, Christian children in China hang up their muslin stockings that are specially made so Dun Che Lao Ren or "Christmas Old Man," can fill them with wonderful gifts. Santa Claus may also be called Lan Khoong-Khoong, "Nice Old Father."

..:: Remembered�����E�����Occuring ::..

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moon phase