Why Apples Are A Popular Christmas Gift In China

Winter holidays are celebrated differently across the globe, and in China a new(ish) gift-giving tradition around Christmas has come into play. Considering the relatively small Christian population in China, it's no surprise that Christmas is not a traditional holiday there, although it has become a huge commercial event in the past decade. However, the Chinese have strung together their own little bells of tradition that jingle on Christmas — the most popular among them is the custom of gifting big, juicy apples.

Why have apples become such a favorite among edible holiday gifts ? The Chinese place significant value on phonetics and auspicious-sounding words are preferred for gifts. The phrase for Christmas Eve in Mandarin and the word for apple share a linguistic connection. Christmas Eve is ping an ye in Mandarin, which translates to "peaceful night" (believed to be a nomenclature of the carol Silent Night).



The word for apple is ping guo, which translates to "peaceful fruit," as ping itself means peace. As a result, apples have almost gained the moniker of "peace fruit" or "peace apples" in China, and the ritual of gifting apples on Christmas is a way to wish a loved one a safe life — one replete with calm and peace. It revolves around the word peace The gifted apples in China aren't like the plain apples people used to give their teachers .

They're often wrapped in ornate plastic bags decorated with gold ribbons and gifting papers featuring intricate designs — sometimes of Chinese dragons or a suave Santa Claus wearing a bow tie or playing the saxophone, but most often with "Merry Christmas" stenciled in golden ink or a Christmas message in Mandarin. This tradition has gained momentum in the country only in the past decade, driven by globalization and a booming Christian population, with younger generations embracing the holiday in their own unique way. Peace apples, in particular, have become especially popular among young men as a thoughtful gift for their girlfriends, adding a touch of Valentine's Day sweetness to Christmas (another reason the fruit is exorbitantly priced in China around the holiday season).

So, packing a few apples as part of your Christmas present might not be such a bad idea. It'll add an element of surprise and keep your audience hooked with a charming tale about the tradition of peace apples..