What to Gift the Apple of Your Eye on Christmas Eve in China

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How is Christmas celebrated in your part of the world? In China, where approximately 5% of its 1.4 billion-strong population identifies as Christian, many have a quirky way of recognizing the holiday.

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In lieu of or in addition to buying candy canes or gingerbread men, Chinese people present their loved ones with a different sweet treat — one that’s more dentist-approved.

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Fun fact: Chinese people love their puns. And since Christmas Eve — Píng'ān Yè (平安夜) — and apple — píngguǒ (苹果) — sound slightly similar in Mandarin, some say that eating the fruit on December 24 ushers in a peaceful new year.

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The slightly comical thing is that the custom has extended to include apple-shaped items too. Apple and apple-themed ephemera flood the Chinese ecommerce platform known as Taobao, which we liken to ‘Amazon on steroids,’ every year-end.

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A sneaky way of skirting your dentist’s orders, this apple-shaped treat (see below) is really just hollowed-out chocolate filled with more candy.

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Click on the link below to see other ways Chinese people celebrate Christmas.

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