Local, expat residents celebrate Christmas

Sparkles Stowe from the U.S. and local residents make Christmas cupcakes at a party held at MH Maker in Guanlan Subdistrict in Longhua District on Friday night. Tao Tongtong

With the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, sending Christmas cards and gifts, attending a Christmas party in December has become a part of Chinese people’s way of life. A total of 40 residents in Guanlan Subdistrict in Longhua District, including expat and local residents, celebrated Christmas at a party at MH Maker in Longhua on Friday.

The party was co-organized by the Party committee of Guanlan Subdistrict and Guanlan Service Center for Social Organizations.

During the event, participants got a better understanding of the history and conventions of Christmas. They played games and exchanged gifts.

A teacher of hand-made baked goods was invited to help the local and expat residents bake their own cupcakes.

Baking Christmas cakes, a British holiday tradition, has been popular for several centuries. A Christmas cake is now an essential item for a festival menu. The participants enjoyed making cupcakes and decorating them in a special Christmas theme.

The event is one of a series of activities organized by the subdistrict to enhance cultural exchanges among local and expat residents. Organizers said more events themed on traditional Chinese and Western festivals, will be held in the future.