News Analysis China cancelled Christmas this year, claiming that it was damaging traditional Chinese culture, and warned its people to avoid Western influence. This is just the latest step in Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s new policy of tightening social control, while turning China inward. Christmas celebrations first became popular in the 1990s, largely among young people. The main catalyst was the English teaching centers, as Christmas was never celebrated in Chinese public schools. Many Chinese people usually begin attending English lessons as young as 3 or 4 years old and, thus, by the time they start high school, Christmas has become a regular feature of their childhood. For the vast majority of Chinese, Christmas was never celebrated as a religious holiday. Instead, it focused on Santa Claus, and children decorated trees, sang songs, and received presents. As college students and young adults, this generation who grew up celebrating Christmas held …