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Why China’s war on Christmas is gathering pace

The authorities say they are worried about the spread of Western influence and its religious overtones, but many young Chinese just see it as a chance to shop and party

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Christmas lights on display in central Beijing. Many retailers see the festival as a chance to boost sales. Photo: AP
Kinling Loin Beijing

Although China makes most of the world’s artificial Christmas trees, in many places wider celebrations of the festival have been banned by the country’s Communist authorities.

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Last week members of the Communist Party’s Youth League at the University of South China in Hunan province were asked to sign a code of conduct which told them not to participate in Christmas-related celebrations, according to a statement circulating on Weibo on Wednesday.

“Communist Party members must be role models in abiding to the faith of communism. [Members are] not allowed to have superstitions and blindly follow the opium of Western spirits,” the statement, which was signed off by the Youth League said.

Photographs of the meeting suggested it took place on December 18.

Party members would be subject to disciplinary consequences if they or their direct relatives were found to be involved in religious activities on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, according to the statement.

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Instead they were urged to hold events to promote “patriotic and traditional Chinese culture”.

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