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<DIV align=center>Asia celebrates Christmas with a twist </DIV></TD>
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< align=center>圣诞飘扬过海 亚洲人玩转西方节日 </TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=center align=left><IMG src="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/23/xin_50120223104406202411.jpg" align=baseline border=0></TD></TR>
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<TD vAlign=center align=left><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff size=1>Chef Max Huber, executive chef of a hotel, makes a chocolate Christmas tree at a hotel in Bangkok.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
Few Asians are Christian but people across the vast continent are embracing the holiday as a great excuse for shopping, partying and even romance.
Come December, Christmas lights brighten shopping streets in cities from Beijing to Colombo, while images of Santa Claus and Rudolph adorn office buildings, shops and restaurants.
Shopping malls in Indonesia, the country with the largest number of Muslims, play carols like "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells" through speakers during the year-end holiday season.
"Most workers here are Muslim but we also celebrate Christmas just like we celebrate <STRONG><FONT color=#808000>Eid al-Fitr</FONT></STRONG>. We are complementing each other with these costumes and ornaments," said Jakarta restaurant receptionist Lina Novianti, wearing a red Santa Claus hat. The Moslem celebration Eid al-Fitr marks the end of <STRONG><FONT color=#808000>fasting</FONT></STRONG> during <STRONG><FONT color=#808000>Ramadan</FONT></STRONG>.
Every year the Indonesian president and top officials attend national Christmas celebrations with church groups.
In China, Christmas Eve has become one of the biggest party nights of the year for young professionals.
"Bars, karaoke halls, restaurants, they all get completely packed on Christmas Eve," said Zu Min, who sells Christmas trees and wreaths, "More and more Chinese people are buying Christmas trees now."
Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka, which already enjoys at least one public holiday each month to celebrate the Buddha's teachings, has also adopted Christmas, Easter, Ramadan and the Hindu festival of lights <STRONG><FONT color=#808000>Deepvali</FONT></STRONG>, making it a world leader in days off.
Tinsel has even been put up inside commercial aircraft that fly from mainly Buddhist Colombo to predominantly Hindu Jaffna.
"I'm a Buddhist, but we celebrate Christmas because my kids insist on it. We decorate the house and have a Christmas tree so my kids will be happy," said a mother-of-two, laden with gifts.
In Japan, Christmas Eve has taken on a meaning similar to Valentine's Day, being the time for romance among young couples.

(Agencies) </TD>
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虽然亚洲的基督教信徒很少，但是居住在这个世界第一大洲的人们也要"玩转"圣诞节，趁机享受一下购物和聚会的乐趣；而体验浪漫时光，更是这个节日的主题。
12月以来，购物街上的璀璨灯光从北京一直亮到了科伦坡，办公楼、商店和餐馆里也都有了圣诞老人和红鼻子驯鹿的装点。
印度尼西亚是穆斯林最多的国家，在圣诞节前夕，购物商城里频频播放着圣诞颂歌，比如《平安夜》、《铃儿响叮当》，为商城平添了几分节日的气氛。
里娜·诺维安提是雅加达一家餐馆的招待，她头上戴着红色的圣诞老人帽，她说，"餐馆里的大多数员工虽然都是穆斯林，但是我们也过圣诞节，就像庆祝尔代节一样。"尔代节是斋月结束的标志，，穆斯林在斋月里从日出到日落是要禁食的。
印度尼西亚的总统和官员们每年都会参加教堂举行的圣诞庆祝活动。
而在中国，平安夜则成了年轻人们欢聚一堂的最好时光。
卖圣诞树和圣诞花环的祖敏说，"酒吧、卡拉OK厅、餐馆在圣诞前夜都会爆满。现在买圣诞树的中国人也越来越多。"
佛教圣地斯里兰卡每个月至少放一天假来庆祝佛教教义，而圣诞节、复活节、斋月和印度的灯节在斯里兰卡也成了法定假日，怪不得这个国家的假期是世界上最多的。
从佛教城市科伦坡飞往印度教圣地贾夫纳（斯里兰卡北部港口）的飞机里，也挂了一些金箔和银箔的圣诞装饰品。
一位有两个孩子的母亲手上提了很多圣诞礼物，她说，"我是一名佛教教徒，但是我们都过圣诞节，因为孩子们非要过这个节日。我们会装点房间，再买一棵圣诞树，孩子们一定会很高兴的。"
在日本，平安夜和情人节有着近乎相同的意义，年轻夫妇和情侣们会在这一天尽情享受二人世界的浪漫。
<BR><BR>(中国日报网站编译)</TD></TR></TABLE>