Christmas Eve in China saw significantly diminished public celebrations this year as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed tighter restrictions on religious gatherings and festive activities. Reports from various regions indicate that local authorities disrupted planned Christmas services, restricted public displays, and cautioned students against holiday-related expressions.
In provinces such as Shandong, Zhejiang, and Sichuan, Christians affiliated with underground house churches faced direct intervention from state security officials. On December 24, Pastor Huang from Qingdao, Shandong Province, revealed that congregants were informed they could not gather for Christmas Eve services. Instead, they held a small private gathering at home. “All collective gatherings here are banned,” said Pastor Huang. “Shopping malls are also not allowed to put up Christmas trees or decorations. There’s no Christmas atmosphere at all this year—not just in Qingdao, but elsewhere as well.”
In Wenzhou, renowned for its significant Christian population, Pastor Wang reported that only state-sanctioned churches were permitted to hold Christmas activities. “Several believers detained earlier in December have not been released,” he mentioned, expressing concerns that many Christians are now hesitant to attend group events due to the risks involved.
The CCP’s policies dictate that only state-approved Christian churches are allowed to operate, and these institutions must adhere to stringent regulations set by the National Religious Affairs Administration. This includes replacing traditional Christian symbols with images of CCP leaders and promoting communist ideologies in sermons. Pastor Li, also from Wenzhou, shared that he was questioned by officials regarding expected attendance numbers ahead of Christmas Eve.
University Restrictions and Public Gatherings
Several universities across China implemented measures to restrict student activities during the holiday season. At Dezhou University in Shandong, students received directives not to post any Christmas-related content on social media, with warnings that online activities might be monitored. In Northwest University, students were required to remain on campus during December 24 and 25, with nightly roll calls. Similar instructions were shared by students in Zhejiang, where officials encouraged them to remove Christmas-themed profile pictures.
In Shanghai, police detained a woman dressed as Santa Claus who was distributing apples to passersby. Footage shared online showed individuals in Santa costumes awaiting questioning at a police station, with Christmas decorations confiscated. A Christian resident in Shanghai noted that commercial Christmas displays were confined to designated areas, with some removed as early as December 22. “Christmas can now only exist within clearly defined boundaries,” they remarked.
Nationwide Impact and Official Policies
Across various provinces, reports indicate a significant decline in public Christmas events outside officially sanctioned churches. A Christian in Fujian Province observed that such gatherings have largely vanished over the past two years. In Shenyang, students were discouraged from wearing Christmas hats, while local officials visited homes to advise against participation in church activities.
In Chengdu, Mr. Yang, another local Christian, stated that authorities informed churches ahead of Christmas Eve that gatherings were not allowed. “There’s almost no Christmas atmosphere anymore,” he said. “Some large shopping malls still have decorations, but the big street displays from previous years are gone. Gatherings at home are also fully banned.”
Official CCP regulations require that religious activities occur only within approved venues and prohibit the public expression of religious festivals. In recent years, local governments have reiterated that Christmas celebrations should remain contained and not be promoted publicly. Underground churches across multiple provinces have reported receiving annual notices ahead of Christmas that restrict public or collective celebrations, with some cities demanding churches submit attendee lists in advance for official inspections.
On December 23, the U.S. Embassy in China shared a holiday video on social media, wishing viewers a “joyful, peaceful holiday season.” The video garnered attention on Chinese platforms, eliciting a range of reactions, including discussions about the government’s restrictions on Christmas celebrations in China.
