The last word from the East: China's Christmas conundrum
Edward BellFCB Greater China
This year in China, we've witnessed another step in the continuing evolution of China's relationship with 'Christmas with Chinese characteristics'. In more and more far-flung places, schoolteachers, brave icedriver swimmers and strolling couples were observed in Christmas hats, posing next to Christmas trees and generally engaging in some form of 'Christmasness'. And beyond the, now familiar, steady march towards consumerism, what is particularly interesting is the conflict of agendas that this success is forcing into the question of modern China: the economic imperative to encourage personal...