How can foreign guests spend Christmas Even in Yichang? On the evening of December, 25th, the reporter found in the process of visiting that some were busy in shopping, and others were preparing for gifts after putting children to bed.
Visitors will take the initiatives to share the cost of family party
More than 30 foreign teachers and students in China Three Gorges University were invited to the house of Chris, an American student studying in China, who has prepared Christmas tree decorated with ribbons and balloons, pizza and fruits. Those coming for the party also brought some beverages and drinks with themselves.
After singing, dancing, game-playing and drinking till 10 p.m., guests took out their money and shared the party cost with Chris. “After party, they will invite close friends to bars and exchange Christmas gifts.” Ms. Xu said, after joining in the party with her Australian husband, “Unlike Chinese party wearying the host, “foreigner’s” party seems to be co-organized.”
Share videos with American family members
Andy, an International Department teacher of Yiling Middle School and a native of Hill District, Ohio, USA, was going to share with his parents and friends the videos recording how Yichang residents spent Christmas when he strolled in the streets.
“Andy tells us that Christmas in USA is white, but the first Christmas he spent in Yichang is ‘golden’ because of the shining sunshine. It’s really surprising.” Li Yincui, the supervisor of International Department of Yiling Middle School, told us that Andy has invited her, his collogues and many students to take part in his Christmas party held in house. “He has prepared lots of gifts and supplies, which arouses our immense curiosity”
Putting children to bed, and lay gift at the foot of Christmas tree
At 8:30 last night, Chai Xiaozhong and his American wife Allen sent their kids early off to bed, because, according to Allen’s hometown custom, only when people fall in sleep can Santa Claus come and send gifts. But when their daughters really fell in sleep, they had to get up and “send” gifts to children hurriedly.
Chai Xiaozhong is a native of Yichang who met and fell in love with Allen in this city, then got married with her in 2006, and kept on living in this city with their two kids.
“Christmas is the biggest event of the whole year in the western countries, and it’s similar with Chinese Lunar New Year.” Chai Xiaozhong said that his wife had been preparing this for nearly one month. At the Thanks-giving Day, Allen began to decorate the whole house with Christmas tree and Christmas lights, and then spent several weeks making Christmas cakes, enjoying Christmas music and watching Christmas films with kids together. “The children are looking forward to the coming of Santa Claus. My son even wrote to him and told him that he never touched any meat in the past, but now he began to eat it. He wants gifts from Santa Clause.”
After finishing work yesterday, this couple coaxed their kinds to sleep half an hour early than usual, “only after they fall asleep can we lay down books, toys and other gifts at the foot of Christmas tree. Of course, our children will also leave a glass of milk and a saucer of their favorite cookies to the Santa Clause. Getting up in the morning and finding snacks eaten up, they will rush for the gifts.”
Though Christmas was “made up” by his wife, Chai Xiaozhong felt it “authentic”, “the atmosphere is still the same as what we have experienced during the Spring Festival in childhood. After Christmas, it’s my turn to bustle about for the Chinese Lunar New Year, because I want my kids to experience the true traditional Chinese culture.”
Chai Xiaozhong has summarized festival differences between the east and west in this way, “the honor of gifts giving during Chinese Spring Festival is usually credited to the senders themselves, but on Christmas Eve, gifts, no matter given by parents or grandparents, are sent in the name of Santa Clause. Besides, Chinese people like to stay up in the evening of Lunar New Year’s Day, but the westerners prefer to sleep earlier on Christmas Eve.”(Reporter: Hao Liping, Correspondence, Tan Zhihong)