This Christmas can be just like the ones we used to know
- After three years when traditional festivities were curtailed due to the pandemic, the Christmas spirit can once again be enjoyed to the full in Hong Kong
There will be no dreaming of a white Christmas in subtropical Hong Kong this year, or any year, but the festive season promises to be merry and bright. It is the first Christmas since the end of the pandemic.
Traditional festivities had to be restrained for three years due to Covid-19 fears and social -distancing rules. Parties were cancelled, bars and restaurants closed, family gatherings discouraged and travel plans shelved.
It was not easy to keep the Christmas spirit alive.
This year, with all restrictions lifted and Hong Kong open again, Christmas can be enjoyed to the full. It is being actively embraced.
Much of the city has been turned into a winter wonderland. The harbour is lit up with colourful Christmas lights and shopping centres have competed for the most spectacular display. There are fireworks, fake snow, illuminations and immersive installations.
Dreaming of a Hong Kong Christmas? City rolls out festive markets, decorations
People have, once again, flocked to Christmas markets offering traditional treats including mulled wine and Yule log cakes as well as a chance to meet Santa Claus.
The festivities will, hopefully, put a smile on people’s faces at a time when the city continues to face challenges in bringing about an economic recovery.
Hong Kong, with its mild winter weather, is an excellent place to spend Christmas. But many residents will take the opportunity to travel to mainland China or overseas for the holiday. Discounts and dining vouchers are on offer in a bid to persuade people to stay.
The ability to attract tourists is also critical, with incoming trips expected to peak at 626,000 on Boxing Day.
Christmas – with its lavish feasts, extravagant decorations and piles of presents – has been described as the most commercial of all religious festivals. Many companies depend on their festive trade.
But the deeper meaning of Christmas should not be forgotten. This is a time for peace and goodwill to all. It is about giving, sharing and caring. Such sentiments apply not only to Christians, but to people of all faiths and those who are not religious, wherever they are in the world.
Christmas is a season for generosity. The Operation Santa Claus campaign, run by the Post and RTHK, features 15 charitable projects this year.
As we enjoy the festivities, our thoughts are with those less fortunate. We live in a world of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, devastating wars and the threat posed by climate change. A little peace and goodwill to all would be most welcome.
For many of us, the holiday will provide a welcome opportunity to spend time with family and friends. The Post wishes all its readers, wherever they may be, a very happy Christmas – just like the ones we used to know.
