Chinese Catholics prepare for Christmas
By Globaltimes.cn, Published: 2015-12-22 16:33:36
A woman decorates a Christmas tree on December 17. She and her husband own a small shop in the village. Every Christmas, they decorate the shop and sell holiday merchandise.
Editor's Note:
Liuhe, Shanxi Province, is a village of about 7,000 people, and over 90 percent of the population is Catholic and has been for generations. As Christmas appraoches, the villagers prepare for decorations and parades. Photos: Li Hao/GT

Villagers put up a tree out in the open.
Aman stares at a calendar in his house. Christmas is only a few days away.
The village priest (left) surnamed Wu reads the Bible before mass.
The priest puts on his vestments before mass.
A woman prays while religious songs are being played in the church.
People line up to take communion at the church.
Mass in the village is held twice every day for people to attend.
Villagers attend mass.
Village children attend Sunday school at a local church on December 17.
Children attend Sunday school.
People rehearse for plays and dance to present on Christmas day.
People rehearse for plays and dance to present on Christmas day.
On Sunday, December 20, a ceremony was held to “welcome baby Jesus.” On this day, people parade through the streets with a baby Jesus prop and eventually situate it in a nativity scene set up at the village’s entrance.
Villagers, both adults and children parade through the streets.
Baby Jesus is situated in a nativity scene.
A man reads the Bible.