Christmas in China + Christmas Wrapping Paper
Today we travel to China, another country with very few Christians!
Since there aren’t many Christians in China (only 1% of their population), it is not as much a holiday as it is for us in the U.S. (Chinese New Year is their biggest winter celebration). Only major cities celebrate (mostly the commercialized, modern aspects of Christmas). Those who do authentically commemorate Jesus’ birth do so with traditional customs and attend special services.
Isn’t it a trip to think that the people who make most of our plastic Christmas trees and decorations may not even have those things in their own homes?! Whether they decorate the way we do or not, you can still greet a Chinese person with, Sheng Dan Kuai Le!
Have you ever wondered why wrapping Christmas gifts is even a thing? Apparently, the tradition of wrapping special gifts in paper has its roots in Ancient China!
BOOKS TO READ:
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This encyclopedia is packed with great visuals for a study on Ancient China in general.
Usborne’s Illustrated Stories from China is a great resource for learning about China! Kids will delight in the legends and stories as well as the traditional Chinese brush and ink illustrations.
The Coming Day is a beautiful true story of loss and love set in 1920s China. It tells of a real-life girl who encountered the love of Christ through real-life missionaries. A precious story that is perfect for highlighting the heart of Christmas.
PAPER-MAKING ACTIVITIES:
Since paper AND wrapping with paper originated in China, today’s activity is making your own gift wrap! Baby Sis simply used kraft paper and decorated it with Washi tape, stickers, and by coloring on it.
Big Sis actually opted for a different activity: making her own paper using a paper making kit.
DISCUSSION ACTIVITY:
Our own deep dive into China opened up discussion about the inspiring faith of Chinese Christians and other brothers and sisters in anti-Christian nations, who dedicated and risked their lives for the sake of the gospel.
How incredibly grateful should we be to live in a country where we are free to worship as we please?! Where we can disciple our children in the story of God without fear that someone would come knocking on our doors? To the point that our freedom of religion – sadly – allows us to celebrate Jesus’ birth with a first-world excessiveness that can often overshadow and distract from the sacred truth that the God who is worshiped endlessly by heavenly creatures as HOLY would humble himself for us?
PRAYER: May we slow down enough to savor that truth and what Jesus should mean to us. And may God please give us the fire of faith of those who stand solely on the word of God in the midst of anti-biblical sentiment, behavior, and governments.