Xmas in Hong Kong (or Lack Thereof)

After surviving the destruction of the earth as the Myan calendar ended on December 21st, I spent my 2012 xmas in Hong Kong. I’m not sure what I expected, but I think somehow xmas would be celebrated in some small way here in Hong Kong. However, I was in for a bit of a surprise when I visited three different private homes here in Hong Kong and didn’t see any evidence of the holiday. There were no xmas trees, no stockings, no presents or anything to event acknowledge the holiday. I did hear caroling on the streets near a shopping mall on xmas eve but it seemed more like the mall was trying to attract last minute shoppers rather than celebrating a holiday. Xmas morning arrived and it seemed strange to wake up, shower and to go throughout the day without anyone even saying merry xmas to me. Again I saw trees and decorations in the malls with xmas music playing in stores, but nobody was celebrating the holiday in homes.

We did make a trip out into the brisk, chilly air xmas day around dusk to take a trip across the harbor. I then saw a laser light show and enjoyed the commercial buildings which had be decorated for the holiday. I was just a little bit disappointed later to find out the light show happens year round and was not a holiday thing. Oh well! I am told that Chinese New Year is the big holiday here and I’m looking forward to seeing what it is like in comparison to xmas.