Merry Hong Kong Christmas

Merry Christmas from
Hong Kong !

Hope you are enjoying this wonderful holiday season. There’s no place like home, and that feeling is never more heartfelt than at this time of the year. Christmas is meant to be a celebration shared with family and friends. Being away from home at Christmas for the very first time is certainly a dirrerent experience. Although we are missing everyone, Hong Kong has not let us down as far as the trappings of the seaon-- what a surprise this has been!



First of all, you would not believe the Christmas decorations. Extravagance exists here, just like in the U.S. Most decorations did not go up until around December 1st, which actually was a good thing.

Our mall has the most beautiful giant tree. It is six floors high, and Santa has a luxurious white sofa to sit on. When he arrives, it is like “Elvis is in the house.” He has an entourage of about six pretty girls dressed in short red skirts escorting him through the mall (RL really enjoys that little parade). His outfit looks like what you would expect from a santa in Las Vegas. While his suit is almost like the one worn at Fayette Mall, it has some additional glamour. Sequined designs are stitched all over it and his pants are actually bellbottomed....one very hip dude! I think it just might BE Elvis! Our fellow looks to be a “westerner”. In another mall, further into the New Territories, we saw an Asian santa. It’s just not quite the same. For one thing, his clothes were almost falling off of him, he was so skinny.


We also have been amazed by the light displays, They are fantastic! Skyscrpers are lit with thousands of lights shaped in various holiday motifs, like holiday wreaths and bells. They are just WOW! Even our complex has put up those icicles lights and Christmas trees are in all the buildings. Poinsettias are sitting out everywhere with many outdoor planters filled with them. I hope you are getting the idea– this place loves Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, Christmas day, New Years Eve and New Years day the waterfront around TST (Kowloon side, looking over onto Hong Kong Island) will be closed to traffic . At 8 PM , a revved up laser light show (better than the one that is done daily) and fireworks will go off. The crowd is estimated to be about 400,000 people along the waterfront.. Not sure if RL and I have the courage to dive into that, but we may try.

One of the more surprising things is the fact that the malls and grocery stores are playing Christmas hymns (not Christmas music, Christmas hymns) over their PA system. Contrast this to America where the religion-neutral “Happy Holidays” is the slogan of choice and any audible mention of The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ over a public broadcast system is a definite no-no. Did I ever expect this in China???

So, while all of this is quite exciting and we are certainly not missing out on the holiday Christmas festivities, I have to tell you that I think, for the most part, many of the Chinese really don’t get the real reason for this holiday, the birth of Christ. On Hong Kong Island there is a giant Santa Town for kids. There is also a large display of miniature creches from around the world. At the creche display, the sign explains this is a story about a "child boy born in a manager to his mother and father." Not exactly the Christian version by a long shot. Hong Kongers love cute– their love of “Hello Kitty” is a bit much. Christmas to them has the "cutesy" side along with a lot of lights and glitz– what could be better! As one Hong Konger was quoted, you don’t have to believe in Jesus to enjoy the season, it is a day when “everyone is happy and everyone is in a holiday mood.”

OK, so, now you know about Hong Kong. But, what about China (PRC)? Get ready for an even bigger surprise.....the LoWu Shopping Mall, which is just across the border, has a huge Christmas tree. Around December 15th, RL’s office building erected a large Christmas tree in the lobby. A banner was strung across the entrance to the elevators that says “Merry Christmas”. Monday, December 25th is a work day, but many of the mainland Chinese take vacation on that day. Quite remarkable, really.

I guess the bottom line for me is that you can make this season quite grand with lights, music, gifts, but the real meaning of Christmas is what is important. The birth of Christ was THE miraculous event. Joy to the World!

Love and miss you all– Martha