Before they celebrate, they remember Chinese grieve past and recent deaths before they are ready to usher in Christmas.

Terrible memory: Monks praying during a religious assembly to pay tribute to victims of the Nanjing Massacre in front of a memorial wall at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. — AFP

CHRISTMAS is around the corner. Just like in Malaysia, this festival to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ is widely celebrated in China.

In Beijing, most malls and major streets in commercial areas are decorated with Christmas trees and ornaments. There are also English Christmas songs adding to the festive atmosphere.