UPDATE: Significant restrictions on Christmas celebrations have been imposed across China as the government tightens controls on religious gatherings and public festivities. On December 24, 2023, reports emerged that state security officials actively blocked Christmas services in multiple provinces, leading to an unusually quiet holiday atmosphere throughout the country.
Authorities have thwarted planned gatherings at underground churches in provinces including Shandong, Zhejiang, and Sichuan. Pastor Huang from Qingdao revealed that local state security informed congregants they could not hold Christmas Eve services. Instead, he and his family opted for a private gathering at home. “All collective gatherings here are banned,” Huang stated, emphasizing the lack of festive spirit this year.
In Wenzhou, a city with a large Christian population, Pastor Wang noted that only activities sanctioned by the government were permitted. He highlighted ongoing detentions of believers, stating, “Several believers detained earlier in December have not been released,” adding to the discouragement among local Christians.
Universities are also stepping in to control celebrations. Dezhou University instructed students not to share Christmas-related content online, warning of potential monitoring. Similarly, Northwest University mandated that students remain on campus during the holiday with nightly roll calls. Reports from students indicate that university officials pressured them to remove any Christmas-themed social media posts.
In Shanghai, police detained a woman dressed as Santa Claus for distributing apples in the streets, and footage surfaced of individuals in Santa costumes being questioned by authorities. A local Christian shared that commercial Christmas decorations were restricted to specific areas and many displays were removed as early as December 22. “Christmas can now only exist within clearly defined boundaries,” they lamented.
Reports of similar restrictions were echoed nationwide. A Christian in Fujian Province mentioned that public Christmas events outside state-sanctioned churches have virtually disappeared over the past two years. In Shenyang, schools discouraged students from wearing Christmas hats, while officials visited families to caution against church attendance.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) maintains strict regulations that confine religious activities to approved venues, prohibiting public expressions of faith. Authorities have emphasized that Christmas celebrations should “not expand outward, not be amplified, and not be promoted.” Underground churches across various provinces have received annual warnings against public festivities, with some cities requiring churches to submit attendee lists in advance.
As the U.S. Embassy in China shared a holiday video wishing viewers a “joyful, peaceful holiday season,” reactions poured in across Chinese platforms, reflecting a mix of support and criticism towards the regime’s restrictions on the holiday.
With ongoing crackdowns, it remains to be seen how these restrictions will evolve. The situation is developing, and many Christians are left to navigate a landscape where their expressions of faith are increasingly limited.
