Chinese New Year is an anachronism; the lunar calendar doesn’t really work, and the world, including the Chinese, don’t really use it. For all that, millions of migrant workers pack into trains like sardines in order to go home, reconnect with their extended families and traditions, and watch a cheesy TV show every year.
Similarly, Christmas is largely unmoored from its actual history. A narrative about a virgin birth and the son of God has morphed into a story about a character created by a 19th century cartoonist, which itself had its roots in the life of a vastly older Turkish bishop. Even the Japanese, with little or no Christian past, now celebrate Christmas. If you’re a purist, it’s probably enough to make you ill.
For most people, Christmas is an opportunity to note the passing of the current year and express hope for the year to come, to exchange gifts, and to reconnect with family and tradition–just like Chinese New Year. It may not be logical or rooted in authentic historical experience, but it’s very human, and most of us cherish it.
And so, Merry Christmas to all!