My Chinese Christmas Tree
Although Christmas isn’t an official holiday here in China, it’s sort of observed, at least on the retail level. Shops put up Christmas trees, play endless Christmas songs (often including several different singers doing the same song in a row) are played, and the clerks are made to happily wear Santa hats.
The biggest difference in stores is that the decorations go up much later than in the US and stay up much longer afterward. I’ve also heard Christmas music playing in stores even in late March.
One thing I’ve missed since moving to China was having my own Christmas tree at home. I’d been planning to get one for some time. I’d also been buying up little embroidered traditional Chinese decorations whenever I travelled around China with plans to use them on a tree. Last year, I finally got a small tree and decorated it with a mix of US and Chinese decorations. There were only 2 problems.
1. I sort of needed more lights and garlands.
2. I searched all over and couldn’t find a star to go on top. 
This year, I went on my quest for a Christmas star decoration again. Along the way, I got more lights and more garlands. Since this is China, all the garlands from last year and this are red and gold. 
Finally, I found a star, and it was also available in red and gold. 
I think I may have gone a bit overboard on the lights and garlands, and the poor tree lacks a bit in the symmetry department, but I’m still happy with it.
My Chinese Christmas Tree – 2014
