christmas Archives - Shanghailander

Merry Christmas from Shanghailander

A merry Christmas to all readers of Shanghailander with this 1930 Christmas Card from the Shanghai Fire Brigade. Christmas cards have long been a tradition in the UK. With its strong British flavor, Shanghai International Settlement was no exception.

The inside of the card is very classic with text “Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Bright and Happy New Year.” At the bottom of the page: “Shanghai Fire Department” . There is also a handwritten note “Best Love to mother + Self, Dorothy xx “. I have not yet been able to find who Dorothy was but she was probably and employee or a board member of the Shanghai Fire Department in 1930.

Once again, Merry Christmas to all from Shanghailander.net

Merry Christmas from Shanghailander

Christmas has had a long tradition in Shanghai and Christmas diner and celebration were many in Old Shanghai. Along with the celebration, came printed menus and cards. Below is a Christmas Eve menu from Park Hotel.

The menu below quite similar to today’s Christmas menu. Although under restriction from the war, in Shanghai the party was going for Christmas.

I am not sure who attended Christmas diner at the Park Hotel in 1944. As Shanghai was occupied and most allied nations citizens were interned in camps, it was probably a bunch of Japanese militaries as well as the collaborators that Park Hotel was famous for at that time.

For more articles related to Park Hotel, please go to “Advertising Park Hotel” and “Park Hotel accounting”. For more Christmas cards from old Shanghai, go to post “Merry Christmas from Shanghailander“.

Merry Christmas in 1936 Shanghai

Christmas in the Old Shanghai was a big thing. Christmas mass celebrated in all the churches, but Christmas was also a big party night for many. If you were looking for ideas were to spend Christmas on 1936, here are a few ideas.

I am not sure why this ad was in French, although Jessfield was located on Yu Yuan lu, that was outside the International Settlement. Jessfield Park (current Zhong Shan Park) must have been a far away place from the center at that time. An ideal location for a big noisy party. There is really little for be found about Jessfield Club, apart from a short article on China Rhyming.

Chrismas and New Year parties at the Astor House Hotel

The Astor House Carnival Dinner Dance was surely of much higher level. Located at the Astor House hotel, on today North Bund it was surely one of the great party of the city for that night.

Finally, if one decided to stay home for Christmas, the best gift could a 12 pints of beer, delivered by Union Brewery.