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Who'd have thought that Christmas in Shanghai would be so lavishly aglow with Festive lights and every mall awash with the most beautiful trees and decorations. In the five years I've been here I have seen it become more and more Festive, or perhaps I should say more and more commercialised. Everywhere you look there is a shopping opportunity. However it is not a holiday here and business will continue as usual on the 25th. You'll still be able to visit the hairdresser at 10-00pm, buy fruit from the corner until 11-00pm, very handy when you run out of a lime for a G&T! and pick up your laundry until they decide to close up for the night. This truly is a city that hardly sleeps.
Now who wouldn't like to see their parcels coming from under this tree? This was the first tree I saw this year, but it wasn't long before there were many more adorning the streets and occupying the many malls.
Moose were the decoration of choice in this mall but the thing that I was most was excited about was the Dolce & Gabbana window in the same mall. It was a table full of all the excesses of the Season. Fruit and candelabras, china, glasses and so much more. Opulent is really the only way to describe it. I loved it. I felt like a child staring into a sweetie shop window.
The hotels also have wonderful displays and an early December coffee morning at The Waldorf started that Festive feeling that arrives with the sighting of the first decorations of the year. Every hotel does a wonderful job of decorating.
I could go on and on with description and photos, and each one would be my idea of a "perfect" picture of how Christmas should be. I just love the twinkling lights and hanging ornaments, I am not a believer in less is more at this time of the year. If there is one time you can really go wild with decorating then this is the time.
This year for the first time in 43 years my husband and I will be spending Christmas alone without the family. I'm struggling with it a bit but as we are returning home early in 2018 we thought we'd spend our last Christmas in China, in the sun on an island called Hainan Island. We will be in a hotel in Sanya, alone together. I have no idea how Christmas will be celebrated, not even sure I want it to be celebrated. Without my daughters and grandchildren it will just not be the same, although be assured I will certainly be making it avery traditional family Christmas next year!
Although we won't be here over the holiday I have decorated the house. I have done my annual Christmas dinner party and also hosted my book group so really wanted people to get the Christmas feeling.
So here is a little glimpse of my Christmas decor.
So wherever you are this Festive Season have Fun, Eat, Drink and be Merry. If you can't let your hair down and indulge at this time of the year then when can you?
Have a wonderful Christmas and a Very Happy and Prosperous 2018.
Thank you for taking the time to drop in on my blog and I hope it gives you an insight into life here in Shanghai and into my life here.
