As I was watching ISAtv Asian Level Up with the Fung Bros,
this was a particular cultural clash issue between how the Western and Chinese
people celebrate the 'white Christmas' that made me write this blog post.
As the Fung Bros asked different people
about how they celebrate the Christmas holidays, there were a few
different traditions in which Americans and Asian Americans celebrate the day. A handful of Asian Americans claimed that they did not celebrate the traditional Christmas turkey or
roast chicken whilst others that celebrate the day would go out to Chinese restaurants.
This made me think whether the Christmas tradition has become more modernized within the different cultures- in terms of the food and idea of exchanging gifts.
Rather having Christmas in a Western family way, the answers seem to align with family gatherings that include Chinese, Vietnamese or Filipino food. Whether our cultures have clashed because Christmas day was not that important compared to the Lunar New Year.
Of course, being raised by the traditional Asian family, there is always a pass on to the festive seasons to younger generations. Like in my family for example, Christmas is not a festive season for us. No presents exchanged, no family gatherings for dinner. So why don't we celebrate Christmas?
Rather having Christmas in a Western family way, the answers seem to align with family gatherings that include Chinese, Vietnamese or Filipino food. Whether our cultures have clashed because Christmas day was not that important compared to the Lunar New Year.
Of course, being raised by the traditional Asian family, there is always a pass on to the festive seasons to younger generations. Like in my family for example, Christmas is not a festive season for us. No presents exchanged, no family gatherings for dinner. So why don't we celebrate Christmas?
Well as I’ve explained from above, Christmas is not important in
the Chinese culture – particularly in my family. Although being raised in a
Catholic school, I did celebrate Christmas as a belief that Jesus was born in Bethlehem
and participated with the Christian way of going to Church back at school. In a
way, the religious belief is not strong within the family.
However because I grew up in a Western society, with friends and relatives that are engaging with the festive season, there is a bit of exchanging gifts to bring in the festive mood.
However because I grew up in a Western society, with friends and relatives that are engaging with the festive season, there is a bit of exchanging gifts to bring in the festive mood.
In conclusion, there is a little Christmas spirit within my
family, however because of the religious beliefs and that the Christmas was not a tradition in our culture, our Christmas day was just another
day.
How Do Asians Celebrate the Holidays? LEVEL: ASIAN Ep. 6, ISAtv, December
30,2013, accessed on 2nd January, 2014, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-EGo8Ecqjw>.
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