by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Christmas Eve passed with little public observance across much of China this year as authorities under the Chinese Communist Party intensified restrictions on religious gatherings, public celebrations, and even seasonal decorations, according to pastors, Christians, and residents who spoke to The Epoch Times.
Christians affiliated with underground house churches in provinces including Shandong, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Fujian said state security officials blocked Christmas Eve services, warning believers against collective worship. In cities such as Qingdao and Wenzhou, pastors reported that only regime-approved churches were permitted to hold limited services, while home gatherings were prohibited.
Universities also moved to suppress Christmas observances. Schools in Shandong, Shaanxi, and Zhejiang reportedly warned students against posting Christmas-related content on social media, required roll calls during the holiday, and ordered the removal of festive profile images, citing monitoring and disciplinary measures.
In Shanghai, police detained individuals involved in spontaneous Christmas street activities, including a woman dressed as Santa Claus handing out apples. Social media footage showed holiday items confiscated and participants questioned, while residents said commercial decorations were confined to tightly controlled areas.
Christians across the country said the restrictions reflect broader CCP policies requiring religious activity to remain within approved venues and discouraging public expressions of Christian faith. Many believers described a near-total disappearance of Christmas atmosphere outside state-sanctioned churches, underscoring ongoing pressure on China’s underground Christian community.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
A 33-year-old man in eastern Uganda was allegedly killed by his Muslim father after converting to Christianity, local sources said, in what church leaders describe as part of a broader pattern of faith-related violence in the African nation.
Christian advocacy groups have expressed alarm over what they describe as a sharp rise in arrests and mistreatment of Christians in Iran, particularly converts, accusing the Islamic Republic of increasingly using national security laws to suppress religious dissent.
A campaign video distributed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, showing a little girl weeping at a window and intercut with scenes of her father being executed in war, has sparked outrage among opposition leaders, including Budapest’s mayor.
Crowds marched to the Russian Embassy in Budapest on Sunday to mark nearly four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that is believed to have caused nearly 2 million military casualties.
Iran is increasing pressure on Hezbollah to join any future war with Israel, even as Tehran appears reluctant to enter direct conflict for now.
Major Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday during a military operation in Jalisco state, Mexico’s Defense Department announced, delivering one of the most significant blows to organized crime in recent years.
Anti-government protests have erupted at multiple Iranian universities, marking the largest campus demonstrations since January’s deadly nationwide crackdown, as nuclear negotiations with the United States proceed under the shadow of possible military action.