Why do Chinese give apples at Christmas?

Chinese apples symbolise peace and harmony, so are also called 'Fruits of Peace'. They often feature designs that send love and care, health or Santa wishing you Merry Christmas. Giving apples at Silent Night is a good integration of Chinese and Western cultures – conveying festive blessings.

What is the significance of apples at Christmas?

Christmas (in the traditional sense) may not be widely celebrated in China but many young people have developed a tradition that happens on Christmas Eve – giving a gift-wrapped apple. Some say this is because the Mandarin word for Christmas Eve (or peaceful eve) sounds a lot like the word for apple.

What is the Chinese tradition of the apple?

It's tradition to eat an apple on Christmas Eve

This tradition evolved because 'Christmas Eve' translates into Mandarin as “ping'an ye”, which means 'peaceful night'. The Mandarin Chinese word for apple is pronounced as 'ping guo', which sounds similar to peace.

What is the Chinese Christmas fruit?

They are the "peace apple." Young people across the country send them to their friends as gifts on Christmas Eve. Apple is pronounced as “Ping Guo” in Chinese, and since the character “Ping” rhymes with “peace” in Chinese, the ordinary fruit is related to Christmas Eve – which is known as “peaceful night” in China.

What country gives apples for Christmas?

A new trend in China on Christmas Eve is to give apples to your friends. Apple in Chinese is 苹果 (píngguǒ) and Christmas Eve in Chinese is often called 平安夜 (Píng'ān yè, literally meaning safe night).

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Do Chinese people give apples on Christmas?

Seen as an inexpensive yet meaningful way of expressing affection and love — the apples cost 10 to 20 yuan each (roughly $1.50 to $3), depending on the packaging — the younger generation in particular has embraced exchanging apples as a new holiday tradition.

What are the traditions of Christmas in China?

China's small population of Christians call Christmas Sheng Dan Jieh, or Holy Birth Festival. They decorate their homes with evergreen plants, posters, bright paper chains, and a Christmas tree, which they call a Tree of Light, adorned with paper lanterns, flowers, and red paper chains that symbolize happiness.

What is the gifting fruit in Chinese culture?

Why is Chinese food a Christmas tradition?

History Of Chinese Food On Christmas Day

Immigrants from cultures that don't typically celebrate Christmas found they had time off to spend with family, but no traditions of their own. Chinese restaurants were open on Christmas day and offered an inclusive, welcoming environment. So a century-long love affair was born!

What does China eat for Christmas Eve?

On Christmas eve, it's tradition to eat a 'Peace Apple'. This is most common among young people, which they will send as gifts to their friends. The locals say that eating an apple on Christmas eve will bless you with a safe and peaceful year ahead.

What are Chinese apples called?

Ziziphus jujube or jujube or red date, Chinese date in Vietnamese, is referred to as Chinese apple.

What is the history of apples in China?

The Cultivation History of Apple in China. Abstract Apple is an ancient fruit in China, with a cultivation history of more than 2 000 years. Tang Dynasty there appeared some new varieties of apple such as Qiuzi, Bimba, Haihong, and etc. ancient cultivated plants according to those of the same names today.

Why do we eat apples for Chinese New Year?

This is where apples come into play for the Lunar New Year. Apples represent harmony and peace because when they're pronounced in Cantonese, they sound the same as the word for “peace” (ping). The more apples consumed, the more security granted.

What does gifting apples mean?

The Symbol of the Apple

Over time, the humble apple took on a more symbolic meaning. Apples were seen as a representation of knowledge and wisdom, and by giving one to a teacher, students acknowledged the importance of education in their lives.

What does giving an apple symbolize?

The apple has long been associated with love. With so many other tokens of affection, it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, but since ancient times, it has been a symbol of love, ecstasy, fertility and abundance.

What fruit symbolizes Christmas?

For instance, ornamental apples symbolized the family and this fruit played a major role in holiday decorations. Apple ring wreaths were associated, at Christmas time, with the Holy Family and the Nativity. Other related wreaths featured fruits such as lemons, pineapples and oranges.

Why do the Chinese eat KFC for Christmas?

The campaign started in the 70s to tempt tourists and expats with chicken on Christmas Day when they couldn't find turkey to eat, and was the the brainchild of. Okawara said publicly that the idea came to him in a dream, where he imagined people eating KFC at a Christmas party.

Why do Asians have KFC for Christmas?

However, in 2020, KFC's own explainer said “[t]he original idea for the campaign came when a foreign customer who visited KFC in Tokyo on Christmas day said, 'I can't get the turkey in Japan, so I have no choice but to celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken'.

What do the Chinese eat on Christmas Day?

Like American traditions, those who celebrate Christmas in China have a feast. But rather than turkey and stuffing, the menu would look similar to a Spring Festival fair with roast pork, jiaozi (Chinese dumplings), spring rolls, huoshao (baked roll with or without stuffing), and rice.

What are some gifts that are not appropriate to give in Chinese?

What fruit represents peace in China?

The Chinese words for “apple” and “peace” share the same pronunciation. Drawing from Western tradition during Christmas Eve celebrations, some young people in China have given apples a new name: “peace fruits”. They hope to express their blessings of peace and happiness by giving apples as gifts.

Why do Chinese people gift oranges?

Oranges and Other Citrus

Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year food gifts because they're believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine closely resemble the words for luck and wealth. The gold color also symbolizes prosperity.

What do China call Santa?

In China, Santa is known as 'Sheng dan lao ren' (Traditional: 聖誕老人, Simplified: 圣诞老人; means Old Christmas Man).

What are five fun facts about Christmas celebrations in China?

What religion are Chinese people?

The Chinese government officially recognizes five zongjiao: Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism. Affiliations, beliefs and practices closely associated with these religions are typically described as zongjiao. Confucianism, as well as folk beliefs and practices, are not typically considered zongjiao.