Features
Monday, 30 November 2009 06:11
Written by Ned Kelly

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Traditional festive treats for kids... and big kids in Shanghai!

Tree
Carrefour do a line in pines, but whether it’s artificial or the real deal you’re after, your best bet is to head down to one of the many flower markets, which also stock wreaths, poinsettias and holly, with Yongjia Flower Market on Wanhangdu Hou Lu near Caojiadu Lu particularly festive. They come from mini meter-high saplings to lofty seven-meter whoppers, with prices ranging from RMB100 to RMB6,000. To book ahead one vendor is Mr. Shi (130 2318 9560).

Advent calendar
If you want the coinage spent on a calendar to go to a good cause – remember Tiny Tim? And what Christmas is meant to be all about? – the Friends of the Cathedral, an organization that was formed in support of the stained-glass window project ongoing at the St. Ignatius Xujiahui Cathedral, have produced a very nice stained-glass window themed one. They can be purchased by calling Cam Chamberlain on 139 1636 1239. City Shop stock a nice selection of wooden Christmas tree calendars with pull-out draws to be filled with your own treats, or they have bog standard ones there and in Carrefour. You'll also find some pretty good ones in Marks & Spencer that come in all shanpes and sizes.

Stockings
If you don’t fancy the hassle of making your own, queen of crafts Amelia (www.ameliasmarketplace.com) makes homemade Christmas stockings, and will even embroider names into them on request. Check out her website as she offers plenty more – homemade wrapping paper, decorations and cards, as well as dried oranges, fudge and lots of jams and chutneys.

Fake snow
This one may have the purists turning their conservative Christmas noses up in disgust, but if you’re looking to blizzard your windows up like some kind of Dickensian stage set then Taobao.com is your ticket.

Christkindlmarkt
From Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December, the gardens of Paulaner Bräuhaus on Fenyang Lu are transformed into a traditional German Christmas Market where you can experience the sights, smells and sounds of an Old World Christmas; expect the biting cold air to be filled with the sound and smell of sizzling sausages, warming soup, sweet pastries, spices and of course hot spiced Glühwein. They will also be selling just about everything mentioned on this page: chocolates, special Christmas tableware, cards and wreaths, ornaments and decorations, real Christmas trees, wooden toys and handmade bears and dolls. Entrance is RMB10 with children under 10 free.

Decorations
So you’ve got your tree, now you need to glitz it up. Just north of the old town, opposite the Renaissance Hotel on Fuyou Lu, is a three-floor mall chockablock with enough baubles and tinsel for 365 Christmases a year. You can also find loads of toys here – large ones to go under the tree and smaller ones perfect for stocking-fillers. If you can’t make it down there Carrefour, IKEA and City Shop all have decoration sections, even if they aren’t on quite the same all-shimmering scale, while the flower markets (see ‘Tree’) overflow with wreaths, poinsettias and holly.

Crackers
When it comes to pulling crackers, most stockists need to pull their fingers out, as it looks as if Marks and Spencer have the monopoly in this must at any self-respecting festive feast. They also deal in that tasty Christmas currency, chocolate money.

More!
For more ideas and events to make this a merry ‘ol Christmas check out this article where you can find out about a Christmas ballet, carol singing and festive winter lights, and even discover where to meet Santa: “Merry Christmas, and may God bless us, every one.”

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