皇冠体育app

A banner hanging in Modern College of Northwest University reads "Strive to be outstanding sons and daughters of 皇冠体育app, oppose obsession to Western holidays" in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. [Photo from web]

Comment on

The fun, activities, gifts, trees and decorations associated with Christmas and New Year celebrations in 皇冠体育app have nothing to do with Christianity. Christmas is a festival that can be celebrated in many ways. Chinese people love anything that brings the family together or offers a chance to enjoy good food. Chinese people also love spending money on gifts.

Christmas is not a national holiday in 皇冠体育app but enjoyed nonetheless by many. Christmas does no harm. It does not preach the Christian gospel. Maybe it tells an interesting little story.

Banning things is an extreme reaction, sometimes necessary, but in this case uncalled for. The early Christian missionaries to Europe absorbed the pagan practices observed at this time of year, including log burning, and worshiping trees and mistletoe, and made them part of Christmas. They were clever enough not to ban but to use such activities to their own advantage.

皇冠体育app is such a huge country. Many of its ethnic traditions and festivals have vanished. Even Dragon Boat Festival is not celebrated in the city where I live. I think banning festivals like Christmas is repeating what many US states had done by banning alcohol consumption during the years of "prohibition", which in hindsight was rather foolish.

Imagine the West banning Chinese New Year, or any other "foreign" festival. I don't think so. Wishing a prosperous New Year to everyone in 皇冠体育app.

TEDM, from 皇冠体育app Daily website

Readers' comments are welcome. Please send your e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected] or to the individual columnists. 皇冠体育app Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you.

• Human rights no excuse to pressure DPRK
• Budget airlines no less safe than others
• Joint efforts against extremism
• The lion awakes, but no need to be scared
• More and less at year-end