Constitution Day blends history and Santa’s gifts
by Chia-Yun Lo, reporter

    For as long as I can remember, for many children in Taiwan, Christmas is a big deal. In fact, it is as big as the Chinese New Year because instead of getting money in red envelopes from their elders, children get gifts from someone called Santa.

   I was born in Hong Kong and lived there until I was 5 years old. Because, by that time, Hong Kong was ruled under the British government, my education was a bit different from that of other children in Taiwan.

   In kindergarten, our teacher told us how the children around the world got gifts from Santa. She said we could have the same if we were good.
Our families also had the tradition in our homes of giving gifts during Christmas.

   One big difference in the Christmas celebration in Taiwan is the Christmas tree. Because our country is near the equator, the temperature is hotter than here. Although we still have winter, the weather is too warm for a Christmas tree to live, even in December.

   However, Dec. 25 has a special significance In Taiwan. On that day, we celebrate Constitution Day, an official holiday. Taiwan was ruled under Japan and China many years ago. This holiday celebrates the day that we founded our country, and it recognizes how the Constitution of the Republic of China was passed after many years of hard work.

   Every year on Dec. 25 in our home, my family gave me gifts from Santa; then we all watched television together to see special events. Sometimes we ate at home, and sometimes we would go out to eat.

   In Taiwan, children return to school on Dec. 26. As in the United States, the children in school always wanted to talk about what kind of gifts we received from Santa.

   Of course, as with most children, we also fought about whether Santa was real, whose gift was better and whether Christmas was a real holiday or not. Some children from Christian backgrounds told the story of the nativity so we would know Christmas is a holiday to celebrate Christianity not gifts.

   I still love Christmas, but for a different reason now. For me it is not only a day off from school, but a day to enjoy a special meal with friends.