Culture in Asia: Chinese Students Urge Ignorance to Christmas

AFP
December 22, 2006

Ten doctorate students from China's elite universities are calling for a boycott of Christmas and urging people to revert to Chinese traditions.

In a statement carried by many Chinese Internet websites, they lamented the loss of Chinese traditions and morals, amid what they said was the widening invasion of western popular culture.

"We notice that many Chinese who do not believe or do not know anything about Christianity... would join in Christmas partying without much thought," said the students, all from elite universities.

"This is a phenomenon of the collective loss of sense."

The students said they supported religious freedom but called on Chinese people who are not Christians to stop celebrating Christmas and not to give cards and presents or go to parties.

They also urged government departments to consider regulating Christmas activities in public venues and in the media.

The statment said Chinese people should not pander to western culture and instead look to Confucianism for spiritual fulfillment.