There is something unique about the festive season, even if you are not Christian and don’t celebrate the religious side of things, there are still plenty of ways you can enjoy this time of year in Hong Kong. Many cultures have their own unique traditions for the Christmas season and these are all fantastic ways of bringing family and friends together. Whatever you love to do at Christmas time and whoever you will be celebrating with, there can be no denying that there is something almost magical about Christmas and the associated traditions.

Whether you are home for Christmas or will be visiting friends and family overseas there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your Christmas is just as magical as you want it to be. From traditional European celebrations to traditions that are more specific to Hong Kong, you will be able to make the most of this Christmas by drawing inspiration from these fun and festive celebrations.

Red, gold and green colour schemes

Red and gold hold cultural significance for many in Hong Kong, but they (along with the colour green) are strongly associated with the Christmas season. There is a very good reason for the popularity of these three colours at Christmas time, and they are steeped in rich symbology. Red symbolises the blood of Christ in the Christian faith and as this holiday has its roots in Christian celebration it takes on a strong significance at this time of year.

If you are familiar with the story of the Nativity, you will know that the Three Wise Men brought the baby Jesus gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold. The gold in festive colour schemes represents the latter gift and brings lots of sparkle to your decor at Christmas. Green is the final colour in most festive colour schemes and its significance dates back to pre-Christian history. It symbolises everlasting life and new beginnings, and is often brought into Christmas celebrations in the form of general decorations.

Trees and foliage

Perhaps the most iconic use of the colour green at Christmas time is when it is used as part of traditional wreaths and the true Christmas icons: Christmas trees. The Christmas tree brings lots of cheer to the festive season and it is often fun for the whole family to get together to add their favourite decorations. Decorate your home with wreaths of holly and a traditional fir tree, or create a more modern look by using foliage from plants that are native to Hong Kong and the surrounding areas.

Christmas stockings

Many people who grew up in households that celebrate Christmas will have fond memories of hanging a stocking on Christmas Eve, and waking the following morning to find it filled with small gifts. The legend behind the Christmas stocking is that St. Nicholas wanted to help a poor family that had three daughters and so he threw gold coins down the chimney. According to the story, the gold coins ended up landing inside a stocking that was hanging by the fireplace. In place of gold coins, it is traditional to add a small orange or tangerine in place of the precious metal. To this day children all over the world look forward to checking their stockings on Christmas morning.

Christmas crackers

Inspired by French bonbons, London-based sweetmaker Thomas Smith began selling twists of paper with a sweet inside. He also included a small piece of paper with a motto and a chemical-laced strip that causes the small, signature crackle that we’re all familiar with today. Modern crackers are much larger and often contain a gift rather than a single piece of candy, though you can choose Christmas crackers with pretty much any theme you like.

Mince pies

Love them or hate them, mince pies are a Christmas staple for many people. In the old days, the ‘mincemeat’ they contained was made from actual sweetened meat rather than fruits and spices. If we look way back, the roots of this tradition can be traced back to Europeans first forays into the Middle East where they first encountered dishes made by combining meat, fruits and spices to create something completely unfamiliar yet delicious.

Red, gold and green colour schemes

Trees and foliage

Christmas stockings

Christmas crackers

Mince pies

Resources:

Traditional Ways to Celebrate the Festive Season