The colors of Santa: Global Christmas in asia

It has been a long time already that Christmas is a business in anglo-saxon cultures. It has been a while since a bunch of artists make money by refreshing the same Christmas song every year. You can see that this phenomenon is more and more important.

Traditionally in France it is harder to combine money and religion. France’s religion culture is different from protestants culture. Money and sex are really not compatible with worshiping any god. A priest cannot get married, cannot make money etc. It is an obvious statement for many French people. But actually it doesn’t make more sense than the tons of money those Korean churches make on naive people. French think that religion is not compatible with money, but their behavior change and they will end up being slaves of capitalism like everybody else.

Maybe Santa is allowed in China because he is red

In non traditionnally Christian countries, it is almost the opposite. In Asia for example, people don’t know why they celebrate Christmas but they do it well. Here in Asia I have never seen as much Christmas parties, Christmas events, Christmas special, cute employees wearing tiny reindeer hats in every shops, university students singing Christmas Carols better than someone from the US would do. Music companies tell their singer employees to sing Christmas songs. In Korea you have a bunch of those every year. Same shit, same people buying. It is a full permission, a free rein for the reindeer, since they don’t have the guilt of killing Jesus a second time by worshiping the outside instead of worshiping their inner magic god.

As for China, it is red but is actually the most capitalist country in the world. It is a fact. As a result, everything related to financial benefit is allowed. Selling, cheating, lying. And Christmas. All religion is good if it is superficial. Playing (not praying), buying Iphones, trips, wine, etc. As far as you buy things, it is ok to worship any god. The problem for most governments is when a religion starts to make you think by yourself. Make you think that no government in the world care about people (remember, they are governements, and governments and companies are not people. Therefore, they have no emotions like you), make you think there will be no leader that will save you but only yourself. This kind of thought is more dangerous than the angry mob rush on a black friday’ sales.

The compulsory party

As more and more people just do as what they are told the things they do make less and less sense. We are told to celebrating Christmas, not staying alone for New Years Eve etc.. and you must party for New Year, and you must be sad for a funeral. You must. Christmas is a tradition in some cultures, a moment we spend together inside a warm home near the fireplace cracking, right after we went to the service at the church. We share a good meal. We started to offer food, oranges, candies to kids. Then toys. Then toys that last less and less time. The trendy toy. Then other kids are jealous and muslims also have to join the party to avoid their kid bothering them and feeling frustrated. This party is compulsory. This is like Halloween, a global festival for the new global village.

Christmas is just another example. Buddhists also do as they are told (although Buddha himself would deeply disagree) and they worship stupid icons, fire incense, and offer fruits and Lay’s crackers to their god. But they think they are still better than other religions because they don’t fight.

What if we would worship Buddha in Europe? Actually we already started with Ramadan’s promotions, Chinese New Year, Black Friday, Halloween. But it looks like Buddha’s fat ass is not bankable. Yet. They use any reason to make a festival, 11/11, 12/12, Black Friday, 520, Black Day, White Day, Valentines Day, etc…In Asia they just combine traditional festival with western ones. You will end up having to buy something every month. Because you have to follow the trend. This is a global trend. It is the ultimate solution to keep people think the outside must be fancy to be happy.

The Global Christmas is only a business. Even in France now they teach people that going to church is cheesy and old-fashioned (basically everything that doesn’t bring money or taxes). And even the Church say that you have to say 10 prayers to Jesus and 15 hail Mary to save yourself, or wash your feet this way to go to paradise. Not better.

People around you say that “you MUST have fun for Christmas or New Year, it is a special moment, magical moment blah blah…”. And in France we also have to offer a gift to our loved ones. Two days ago, one of my friends in Europe was telling me how he feel forced to offer a shitty Christmas present to his parents. He realized that it makes no sense this entire scam, this tragicomedy. But he has to do it. Fear? Guilt?

Present as a present

I have many brothers and sisters. At a certain number you stop to count. But they still make it a duty to offer several presents to everyone. Even if you are not a kid anymore. Eventually it is a mess, because you almost need an accountant to make it fair, so that no one will end up buying all the presents. In some big families they make a random selection and everyone has to offer one present to a selected person. It is a bit more simple, but still quite mechanical.

As for the moment you open the present, I like the story (or lie) about Santa Claus bringing them at night, and kids discovering it the next morning. But I saw some families opening the presents before going to bed. As a kid I would have hated it. Not being able to play with the toy I just get because it is time to sleep. What do parents think about? I have no idea. I think they just do it because it is how they were educated themselves. Indeed who can deny so easily their own family?

We need festivals to gather, we need communication and event to share our emotions. However, this trend is a bit scary and I would say that it is a bit too much as it keeps humans busy with the world’s noises instead of listening the silence of their soul.