A LOT MORE CHRISTMAS CHEER IN THIS CORNER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (than I’d anticipated) in 2010
A LOT MORE CHRISTMAS CHEER IN THIS CORNER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (than I’d anticipated) in 2010
By Kevin Stoda
Now, about Christmas! I interviewed Taiwanese educators here and they all agreed that this was the most over-the-top Christmas celebration year in their lifetime. A colleague of mine on a neighboring island even noted a rise in the number of Christmas carolers in this predominantly Buddhist and Taoist nation
So, the question is why--this year?
One colleague felt it was blatant commercialism. Christmas cheer promoted by advertisers and media used the idea of Christmas to continue and stoke the thriving Taiwanese economy in 2010-2011.
On the other hand, I have a different perspective. Last night, on Christmas Eve, I had 20 Christian carolers of all ages--including 4 students--come by my humble dormitory room last night. These Taiwanese appeared to all have come from the local Christian community here on Beigan Island. This group of authentic Christian carolers really made my Christmas Eve—as my wife is stranded with baby in the Philippines. (I know they are Christian from having bumped into them as they went to church one Sunday three weeks back. Christians only make up 2 or 3 percent of the population in Taiwan.)
I really believe that, instead of viewing the phenomena of Christmas in Taiwan as a simply an advertising ploy, we should observe that schools and society are succeeding in promoting the idea of giving and sharing at the end of the year. I saw this often amongst children, i.e. in a lot of the small and thoughtful gifts given me and their classmates—including the important giving of mittens and emergency hand-warmers.
In summary, a Christmas spirit (mixed with Winter Solstice fair) has been promoted as the cold northerlies of winter have blown onto Matsu Island during the last school week.
All the school windows at my various elementary (and junior high) schools were covered by students and staff with many Christian and non-Christian symbols of “Christmas Tide”, e.g. Santa, gifts, Christmas Trees, and stars. My fourth grade class at Tang Qi even went caroling to the other classrooms while playing their block flutes quite well. (I was asked to hand out chocolates as gifts to students in the other grades, i.e. as a sort-of stand-in for Santa.)
Meanwhile, every evening for 3 evenings, I was invited out to celebrate the season’s change of Autumn to Winter within rooms garlanded with Christmas décor, including Christmas trees. It made my Christmas Eve. (I know they are Christian from having bumped into them as they went to church one Sunday three weeks back.)
So, perhaps the common theme this year in Taiwan is a growing tolerance for different religious and cutlural practices in Matrsu--plus all the wealth of the Taiwan economy improving.
NOTE: This Christmas Tide experience did not exist with any spiritual sense in Japan in 1992-1994. (Christians in Japan make up roughly just over 1% population. But, the idea of giving Christma Cake at that time always seemed to be little more than an economic motive behind Christmas day.)
In summary, In contrast to rural Japan approximately 2 decades ago, in this rural part of Taiwan, I really have sensed a generous spiritual element on-occasions this 2010 as some kids have exhibited in school a clear sense of joy in giving their presents to me and to others. It was a joy and appreciation that I had experienced on teachers day and on grandparents day back here Ban Li Elementary School back in September when I first arrived.
In short, the big lesson for our students was on “joy and giving” for some of our youth. This helps the eclectic Taiwanese to integrate the idea of Christmas and winter solstice celebrations.
P.S. ANOTHER NOTE; Chinese New Years used to start on Winter Solstice --until several centuries ago--but the entire holiday was moved to February due to the terrible cold Beijing sometimes experienced in late December. (Yes, that change was made by Imperial decree.)
By Kevin Stoda
Now, about Christmas! I interviewed Taiwanese educators here and they all agreed that this was the most over-the-top Christmas celebration year in their lifetime. A colleague of mine on a neighboring island even noted a rise in the number of Christmas carolers in this predominantly Buddhist and Taoist nation
So, the question is why--this year?
One colleague felt it was blatant commercialism. Christmas cheer promoted by advertisers and media used the idea of Christmas to continue and stoke the thriving Taiwanese economy in 2010-2011.
On the other hand, I have a different perspective. Last night, on Christmas Eve, I had 20 Christian carolers of all ages--including 4 students--come by my humble dormitory room last night. These Taiwanese appeared to all have come from the local Christian community here on Beigan Island. This group of authentic Christian carolers really made my Christmas Eve—as my wife is stranded with baby in the Philippines. (I know they are Christian from having bumped into them as they went to church one Sunday three weeks back. Christians only make up 2 or 3 percent of the population in Taiwan.)
I really believe that, instead of viewing the phenomena of Christmas in Taiwan as a simply an advertising ploy, we should observe that schools and society are succeeding in promoting the idea of giving and sharing at the end of the year. I saw this often amongst children, i.e. in a lot of the small and thoughtful gifts given me and their classmates—including the important giving of mittens and emergency hand-warmers.
In summary, a Christmas spirit (mixed with Winter Solstice fair) has been promoted as the cold northerlies of winter have blown onto Matsu Island during the last school week.
All the school windows at my various elementary (and junior high) schools were covered by students and staff with many Christian and non-Christian symbols of “Christmas Tide”, e.g. Santa, gifts, Christmas Trees, and stars. My fourth grade class at Tang Qi even went caroling to the other classrooms while playing their block flutes quite well. (I was asked to hand out chocolates as gifts to students in the other grades, i.e. as a sort-of stand-in for Santa.)
Meanwhile, every evening for 3 evenings, I was invited out to celebrate the season’s change of Autumn to Winter within rooms garlanded with Christmas décor, including Christmas trees. It made my Christmas Eve. (I know they are Christian from having bumped into them as they went to church one Sunday three weeks back.)
So, perhaps the common theme this year in Taiwan is a growing tolerance for different religious and cutlural practices in Matrsu--plus all the wealth of the Taiwan economy improving.
NOTE: This Christmas Tide experience did not exist with any spiritual sense in Japan in 1992-1994. (Christians in Japan make up roughly just over 1% population. But, the idea of giving Christma Cake at that time always seemed to be little more than an economic motive behind Christmas day.)
In summary, In contrast to rural Japan approximately 2 decades ago, in this rural part of Taiwan, I really have sensed a generous spiritual element on-occasions this 2010 as some kids have exhibited in school a clear sense of joy in giving their presents to me and to others. It was a joy and appreciation that I had experienced on teachers day and on grandparents day back here Ban Li Elementary School back in September when I first arrived.
In short, the big lesson for our students was on “joy and giving” for some of our youth. This helps the eclectic Taiwanese to integrate the idea of Christmas and winter solstice celebrations.
P.S. ANOTHER NOTE; Chinese New Years used to start on Winter Solstice --until several centuries ago--but the entire holiday was moved to February due to the terrible cold Beijing sometimes experienced in late December. (Yes, that change was made by Imperial decree.)
Labels: A LOT MORE CHRISTMAS CHEER IN THIS CORNER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA than Id anticipated in 2010
posted by Kevin Anthony Stoda at 12:07 PM
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