Oh, the holidays

Yes, I have once again engaged in the time-honored tradition of risking life and limb to hang Christmas lights. On Tuesday I was ecstatic to discover strings of Christmas lights for sale in a little outdoor market in downtown Luzhou. In a fit of holiday exuberance, I bought four strands. And now one of them is hanging around the window in my living room. The ceiling is high and I lack a ladder, so there was some precarious balancing involved. As I leaned onto the window sill from the stool stacked on top of a dining room chair, I seriously questioned who'd come to the rescue if I fell off. But in the end, no injuries were incurred and the result was worth it. I am now basking in the soft, twinkly glow of my Chinese-Christmas (Chintsmas?) lights. It's nice.

There is a certain cognitive dissonance about seeing Christmas decorations in the local supermarket, as I was surprised to find this week. Far from my home, without the usual family and friends that fill the holiday season, I almost feel as if they aren't happening. As I keep commenting since arriving in China, all the milestones that mark passage of time at home are absent or different. This makes me feel like there is no time at all. But I guess Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season everywhere, even here. How do they know these things? I am still surprised sometimes at the reach of Western culture, even to a "middle city" in Central China.

As one of maybe 12 people in the city who traditionally celebrate Christmas, I had sort of expected to eek out a modest holiday. I had even toyed with the idea of buying a large potted palm to hang Christmas lights on and put presents under. But indeed, artificial Christmas trees are fairly easily obtained here. Featured prominently among Christmas decorations in the market are Santa Claus ornaments and banners that proclaim "Merry Christmas!" Maybe this explains why the Chinese almost always spell my name with an "E" and two "Rs."

I suppose I am lucky to be able to have a semi-traditional Christmas, at least in the way of accoutrements. Maybe I'll go down to the market this weekend and pick myself out a little tree.