Christmas Kitsch - HK scale

It is interesting to see this city go through an unusual transformation for the season. Though traditionally in Canada, the Christmas season is marked by the changing weather, the falling of leaves and the approaching of frosty mornings and eventual flurries. Bundles of winter jacks, scarves, darker tones take on the season. A merry feeling takes over as people prepare for holiday festivities by decorating their lawns, houses and doorsteps with lights, and Christmas ornaments.

In Hong Kong, Christmas is not nearly as celebrated as a time to be with family and enjoy the colder weather next to a fireplace after a big feast. What takes more significance is the Chinese New Year holiday in February, where it is the only time of year people takes the time off to be with family.

Though all over the world Christmas has become an excuse to accelerate shopping habits and spend the year's earnings on loved ones. It is especially true for Hong Kong where holiday, religious, or family celebrations are not so much the concern. As an epic metropolis, it seems to fully embrace the kitchy appearance in all commercial areas, which is essentially the entire core of HK.

Massive 40-story skyscrapers lined in a row, slated by animated lights the whole length of the buildings, the entire city hall transformed into a massive paper-mache village and church, giant trees and elaborate displays outside shopping centres... in such a architecturally impressive city it is bizarre to see such equally epic ornament and decoration.

It is obvious these ventures are supported more by those wealthy expats owing those buildings and those shopping centres hoping to motivate the spirit to shop.

It is just bizarre to see festivities on such a large scale, in a city that doesn't whole-heartedly embrace the season.