Reflections on a Taiwanese Christmas
Christmas came and went and I got to thinking, how was it that I came to learn the true meaning of Christmas in Taiwan?
When I was little, there was hardly any mention of Christmas in Taiwan. Maybe a few decorations were put up at the department stores but that was it. No one I knew celebrated it. The day came and went and that was that. Then I moved to the States and realized what a big deal it was—all the presents and photos with Santa Claus, decorating the tree, singing all the songs at school, and giant dinners with family and friends. Then as I grew older, Christmas grew to become more of a pain—all the shopping and cooking and wrapping and giant dinners with family and friends you don’t necessarily want to see. I began to see Christmas as a major stressful ordeal that required too much money and obligatory time with the in-laws.
Back in Taiwan as an adult, I have seen so much more of Christmas than I remembered as a child. Decorations were up everywhere last month—the post office, the schools, even on the buses! The supermarkets and malls were playing Christmas music on their PA systems, and the local schools hosted Christmas recitals with gift exchanges between the students.
What is refreshing about Christmas here is how it is celebrated in a way that is closer to the original pagan holiday than the ones associated with Christianity in the States. People here are often surprised when I tell them that Christmas is considered a Christian holiday in the States and people celebrate it as the birth of Jesus. It is also refreshing that Christmas is not associated with mandatory shopping here. There were no giant sales at department stores counting down the number of days you’ve got to find that one amazing gift for that finicky person on your list. It was really nice to celebrate a peaceful holiday with my immediate family without the stress of consumerism. To spend a day just being thankful for all you have, thankful that although it is cold outside, you’ve got a terrific family to snuggle up against and to just enjoy the moment with. Now isn’t that the true meaning of Christmas?
Yes, interesting post, but it isn’t a national holiday, and the number of Taiwanese Christians who actually “know how to” celebrate Christmas is still pretty low, I think. I didn’t notice much change in the number of christmas decorations or festivities in Taoyuan this year, but I might have missed this when it was too rainy and cold to go out. Myself, also a USian, I hardly even remember X-mas day passes here since I always have to work that day and rarely bump into Christians or westerners who care enough to go out and “celebrate” Christmas…beyond going for a drink down at the local bar. Which, come to think of it, is probably the best way to celebrate it.
Question Please. My son is in Tainan for two years working on a masters degree. This will be his first Christmas without a huge family celebration. Are Christmas trees readily available? We’re trying to come up with an economical but meaningful plan.
Thanks so much.
You might be able to get a fake tree at Carrefour or somewhere like that.