AMXF Blog Part 1: Chengdu Christmas vs Western Christmas

Introduction (This will be at the beginning of every post for this blog so people have a background on both of us!)

Hi, My name's Criss! I'm a white-mixed American born and raised since 1985 in Southern California. I was raised with a white father and black mother, though due to being in a white community and, while my mother was married to my father, I was mostly raised by him. I'm a sociology grad looking to becoming a counselor. I love to cook and bake and am fairly decent at both lol I have had a strong connection to Asian culture my whole life. I live in LA with my my boyfriend, Chris...yes we have the same shortened name with different spellings... was born in Chengdu, China in 1985. He came here to the US when he was 3. But he goes back to China at least once a year. For the most part, he is pretty American, but there are many ways where, due to how he's grown up, he is still very Chinese. He's a paleontologist. Both of us are pretty hardcore gamers and really into anime.

This blog will be exploring many aspects of our Asian Male/Mixed Female...or amxf/amwf/ambf relationship from cultural backgrounds, views on dating, cooking and anything else we randomly think of!

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A couple weeks ago, Chris and I were sitting around watching some show and randomly got on the topic of holidays. He told me how in his home province in China that Christmas isn't as much of a thing as here in the US. It's not a major holiday for one, so businesses stay open. But one interesting thing was that on Christmas Eve, people get together...and hit each other with foam or inflatable bats! No clue why but it's a thing!

Other than that, some places will decorate with the traditional Christmas tree, maybe lights, few Santa based things. Or they're have odd stuff, like the Panduck! A duck in a panda suit with a Santa hat! Very cute but kinda random. He also said that some restaurants will have the hosts wear Santa hats, but that's usually about it.

At home, gifts are given to the kids, but adults don't bother. Also, a Christmas tree at home isn't common either. All that really goes on is the whole extended family gets together at someone's home or a restaurant, after work of course, and has a family meal. That's it.

So why did this matter to me so much?

For me I love Fall-Winter holidays! especially when I'm in a relationship! I LOVE having a tree up, even a small one since we've both lived in apartments for years and having a 6ft tree can be a serious challenge. But giving gifts is a big thing too. So I asked how he would feel having his first traditional American/Western Christmas season in his own home. His first response was that he's curious. Reason being is I'm FAR from a traditional person. So he knows there will be a twist haha But it'll be a good one. But the classic stuff will be there: tiny fake tree, lights, baking/cooking, holiday songs, Santa hats, and PRESENTS!!! It seemed the offer of pancakes in bed and pretty much being lazy all day was his main appeal to this, but I'll take it!

I can't wait to show my sweet Chinese boyfriend an adult American Christmas! All December...only 4months to go hehehe

References:
http://www.gochengdu.cn/life/culture-art/how-to-celebrate-christmas-in-chengdu-a4140.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatlife/6859877/Christmas-bat-attack.html