The manger scene in the picture below may seem a little unusual. (You can click on it for a larger version if you like.) It’s obviously a manger scene — the three men on the right are paying homage to the baby held aloft by the woman in the center. On the left is a shepherd with one of his animals.
But the scene does look unusual. The animal on the left looks more like a long-necked rabbit than a sheep, and the three men on the right are unlike any wise men I had seen before.
The most unusual thing about this manger however, is its location. The picture was taken in December, 1994, on the shopping floor of a hotel in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China.
I spent the academic year 1994 – 95 teaching in Tianjin, and I was frankly quite surprised to see this manger on public display. The hotel catered to Chinese visitiors, not foreigners. I was the only westerner in the place when this picture was taken! At a time when public displays of Christmas symbols is under attack in some places here at home, I find it more than interesting that this public display could be found in communist China over ten years ago.
There were more secular displays of Christmas as well. The picture below was taken in front of a store front restaurant in Tianjin. It looks as if the reindeer have left Santa stranded, but that is definitely Santa in his sleigh.
I find it amazing and comforting that Christmas has spread to even the most likely parts of the globe. I had a wonderful Christmas in 1994, and I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas this year and for many years to come.
Senior Moments 