Christmas is just around the corner, and people across the world are eager to welcome the Son of God.
Yes, cities are covered with festive lights and decorations, with huge decorated Christmas trees taking center stage.
The birth of Jesus Christ takes place on December 25th. Celebrations begin with the advent of December when houses and streets are covered with decorations and tinsel to welcome Christ.
If you are learning Chinese and wondering if Christmas is celebrated in China then the answer is NO.
Also Read > Best Websites to Learn Chinese
The Chinese do not celebrate Christmas as a festival nor is there a public holiday to commemorate the occasion.
However, in recent times, many people in China have taken to celebrate the occasion with fanfare.
Some youngsters have been treating it as an extra Valentine’s Day!
Christmas is celebrated by millions of people in China each year and is very popular in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an where you can see many Christmas trees and decorations around Christmas time.
Christmas is celebrated in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. It is a public holiday in Macau whereas Hong Kong has a three-day holiday from December 24 to December 26 for Christmas.
Also Read > Do Chinese And Japanese Have The Same Script?
Saying Merry Christmas In Chinese
In this guide, we have shared some basic Christmas words in Chinese to help you interact with the locals or your Chinese friends if you are in any Chinese country during the festive occasion.
The most common way of saying Merry Christmas in Chinese is 圣诞节快乐 Shèngdàn Jié kuàilè!
Where 圣诞 – Shèngdàn: means ‘saint birthday’, 节 – Jié: means ‘festival’, and
快乐 kuàilè – stands for ‘happy’!
Here Are Some Common Christmas Greetings & Words In Chinese & English:
圣诞节 — shèng dàn jié – Christmas
圣诞礼物 — shèng dàn lǐ wù – Christmas gifts.
雪人 xuěrén — Snowman
圣诞老人 Shèngdàn Lǎorén — Santa Claus
壁炉 bìlú — Fireplace
铃 líng — Bell
耶稣 – yē sū — Jesus Christ
苹果 – pínɡ ɡuǒ — Apple
拐杖糖 – guǎi zhàng táng — Candy cane
圣诞卡 – shèng dàn kǎ — Christmas card
圣诞歌 – shèng dàn gē — Christmas carol
天使 – tiān shǐ — Angel
麋鹿 – mí lù — Reindeer
姜饼屋 – jiāng bǐng wū — Gingerbread house
报佳音 – bào jiā yīn — Caroling
槲寄生 hújìshēng — Mistletoe
礼物 lǐwù — Present
冬青 dōngqīng — Holly
长袜 chǎng wà — Stocking
新年快乐 xīnnián kuàilè — Happy New Year
圣诞颂歌 shèngdàn sònggē — Christmas Carols
圣诞贺卡 shèngdàn hèkǎ — Christmas Card
圣诞树 shèngdànshù — Christmas Tree
火雞 huǒjī — Turkey
花环 huāhuán — Wreath
精灵 jīnglíng — Elf
北极 Běi Jí — North Pole
姜饼房 jiāngbǐng fáng — Gingerbread house
拐杖糖 guǎizhàng táng — Candy cane
香槟 xiāngbīn — Champagne
热红酒 rè hóngjiǔ — Mulled Wine
圣诞布丁 shèngdàn bùdīng — Christmas Pudding
童床 tóng chuáng — Crib
三位智者 sān wèi zhìzhě — Three Wise Men
Christmas Wishes in Chinese:
圣诞快乐，恭贺新禧！shèngdàn kuàilè, gōnghè xīnxǐ! — Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
祝圣诞平安，新年中有意想不到的收获！zhù shèngdàn píng’ān, xīnnián zhōng yǒuyì xiǎngbùdào de shōuhuò! – Meaning — I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year full of surprises
愿你度过最美好的圣诞节 yuàn nǐ dùguò zuì měihǎo de shèngdàn jié! – Meaning — May you have the best Christmas ever.
愿圣诞的快乐一年四季常在。yuàn shèngdàn de kuàilè yī nián sìjì cháng zài. – Meaning — May the joy of Christmas be with you throughout the year.
祝福你及全家圣诞快乐。zhùfú nín jí quánjiā shèngdàn kuàilè – Meaning — Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas.
Popular Christmas Song in Chinese
shèngdàn sònggē Christmas Song
We wish you a Merry Christmas
我们祝你圣诞快乐 – wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè
We wish you a Merry Christmas
wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè (我们祝你圣诞快乐)
We wish you a Merry Christmas
我们祝你圣诞快乐 – wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè
And a happy New Year!
新年快乐 – xīnnián kuàilè!
Good tidings we bring
我们带来了好消息 – wǒmen dài láile hǎo xiāoxī
To you and your kin
给你和你的家人 – gěi nǐ hé nǐ de jiārén
We wish you a Merry Christmas
我们祝你圣诞快乐 – wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè
And a happy New Year!
新年快乐 – xīnnián kuàilè!
The annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western world is celebrated with much fanfare, with food and more overflowing strangers welcomed with smiles during this popular festive occasion.
However China does not celebrate Christmas, there is no public holiday in China. However many have adapted Christmas as per their own beliefs, or simply to enjoy the festive occasion.
Fun Facts About Christmas In Chinese
Not many know that China also has a Christmas Village where 60% of the world’s Christmas merchandise is made.
The village is Yiwu in Zhejiang Province and it has more than 600 factories creating Christmas goodies like decorations, tinsel, Santa Hats, Christmas trees, fake snow, and more.
Santa Claus is depicted as a fat man with a white beard flying around on his sledge led by the reindeer.
But have you ever seen a Santa playing the saxophone? In China they have Santa playing the saxophone.
Though it is not considered a festival the young generation celebrate it as another Valentine’s Day.
The shops are overflowing with romantic gifts such as stuffed bears, flowers, and chocolates, and the restaurants too are seen offering romantic meals for two!
Santa is assisted by the elves who are known to make the gifts that are distributed by the adorable chubby old man to deserving children.
However, the Chinese Santa does not have elves but has Christmas sisters dressed in red and white to assist him.
In Chinese, Christmas Eve is written as 平安夜 (Píng’ān yè). Apple is also written as 苹果 (píngguǒ).
Both have ‘ping’ in their name therefore the special apples gifted by the Chinese people to friends and family are called 平安果 (píng’ān guǒ), or ‘peace apples’.
We wish you Merry Christmas (wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè (我们祝你圣诞快乐). However do not forget to gift your Chinese friends 平安果 (píng’ān guǒ), or ‘peace apples’ as you celebrate the festive occasion with them.
