by Mei, age 8, asks if cactus is poisonous generally, about the Yangtze, and Christmas in China
Dear Santa,
Ni hao from Shanghai. My name is Mei and I am 8 years old. Christmas is not a public holiday where I live, but the shopping streets get decorated anyway, with lights and big trees outside the malls, and my parents let me pick one ornament every year for our small tree at home.
My first question is a general one: are Christmas cactus plants poisonous at all?
My second question is geography: what is the longest river in China?
My third question is from school: why is Christmas mostly a shopping and decoration holiday in China rather than a public one?
I left you mooncake, even though it is usually for a different festival, because it is my favourite thing to share.
Love, Mei, age 8, Shanghai, China
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Mei, mooncake at Christmas is a delightful bit of mixing seasons, and I enjoyed every bite. Now, to your good questions.
Are Christmas cactus plants poisonous at all?
Here is the reassuring overall answer. The Christmas cactus is considered non-toxic to people, cats, and dogs alike. It will not cause serious poisoning if a curious child or pet takes a nibble, though eating a large amount of any houseplant can sometimes cause a mild upset stomach simply because it is not food. So while it is always sensible to teach little ones and pets that plants are for looking at rather than eating, this particular plant is one of the safer ones to have in a home during the holidays.
What is the longest river in China?
The longest river in China, and the third longest river in the entire world, is the Yangtze River. It flows for about 6,300 kilometres across the country, from the mountains in the west all the way to the East China Sea near Shanghai itself, supporting farms, cities, and wildlife along its enormous length.
Why is Christmas mostly a shopping holiday in China?
Christmas is not an official public holiday in China, and only a small percentage of the population is Christian, so the day is not widely marked as a religious occasion. Over the past few decades, however, Christmas imagery, like lights, trees, and Santa decorations, became popular in cities as a festive, fun addition to the winter shopping season, especially among younger people and in commercial areas. It has become something enjoyed mostly for its atmosphere and its shopping and decorating traditions, rather than for religious reasons, which is simply a different, equally valid way for a country to enjoy a bit of holiday sparkle.
Enjoy picking your ornament, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
