Oh, Christmas! Let's have some fun!

Although a majority of Chinese people do not have a Christmas break, the country's youth have been increasingly getting into the holiday spirit.

Different from family reunions that often mark the celebration in the west, Chinese observe the day by getting together with friends, shopping, giving gifts and romance.

SANTA CLAUS COMING INTO TOWN

On Wednesday, 7-year-old Guo Xunyu's primary school teacher is throwing a party to celebrate the western holiday. The children will sing songs, eat snacks and play games with her classmates at primary school.

"It is a wonderful time for our kids to sit around, as well as for us parents to communicate," said Gao Yajie, one of the parents who helped arrange the activity. "After all, the children are too busy with their daily school work."

In a community in north Beijing, 26 male volunteers will dress up as "Santa Claus" to deliver gifts to about 260 homes.

According to Meng Jin, an organizer of the activity, the 26 Santa Clauses plan to knock at the door to surprise kids with their presents.

"We aim to leave a wonderful childhood memory for children in our community and Christmas eve is just the right time when the festive atmosphere is everywhere," she said.

"Many families have registered to get a present for their child, we are recruiting more Santa Clauses for the eve," she added.

CELEBRATION AROUND THE COUNTRY

In a remote village at an altitude of 3,000 meters on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in northwest China, a Tibetan woman, Tsering Amon, is busy rehearsing a dance performance for a show on Christmas eve.

Knowledge about the western holiday spread to the Tibetan village through children who learnt about it in school and people who work in big cities. Now, more people in the small village enjoy the jubilant atmosphere when the eve falls.

"Since Christmas celebrations began in 2009, people in the neighborhood have enjoyed it very much. This year, the celebration will last about two hours, including singing, dancing and mini-dramas," said Tsering Amon.

"We have bought costumes, Christmas hats, masks and presents such as apples for the seniors and pencils and erasers for the children," she said.