Critics Oppose Christmas In China

A group of Chinese students has criticised a rise in Christmas revelry, urging people to "resist Western cultural invasion", state media says.

The 10 students, all from elite universities, posted their views on an internet website, the China Daily said. They condemned the proliferation of Christmas trees, seasonal messages in the media and people celebrating "until very late" on Christmas Eve. The government was to blame for failing to maintain traditions, they said.

"Occidental culture has been more like storms sweeping through the country rather than mild showers," the students argued. People were joining in Christmas partying without giving its meaning much thought, they said. "This is a phenomenon of the collective loss of sense," they said, urging a return to Confucianism.

But the posting had drawn heavy criticism, China Daily said, and was unlikely to receive much support. Western festivals like Christmas and Valentine's Day have been enthusiastically embraced by Chinese retailers and young people alike in recent years.(BBC NEWS)

****** This reminds me of the report earlier this year about the noise made by traditionalists in India who strongly opposed the 'celebration' of Valentine's Day there. The reasons given were more or less the same as above and not surprisingly their protests were totally ignored especially by the younger generation. I personally don't think that the celebration of this or other 'western' cultural/religious events is going to make a non-occidental any different from those who do not embrace these occasions with the same fervour. It is merely an excuse to have a good time but with a varied 'theme' or 'flavour.' To say that because of this one stands to lose his identity or 'sense,' is inaccurate. Let our youth have a good time while they are still young and not tainted by the fanaticism and prejudices of the older lot and if it takes the celebrating of cultural events of others, so be it.

Image - Dianthus
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