Chinese New Year is usually at the end of January or the beginning of February. However, CNY will fall in mid-January for 2023.
This has caused many malls and stores to put up Christmas and CNY decorations as early as the beginning of December.
A mall in Sabah has shared that their decorations this year for both festivities were merged.
This resulted in a mash-up of snowflakes, snowmen and reindeer with lanterns, rabbits and the God of Prosperity.
Here, take a look for yourself.
Many netizens felt that the decorations were not Christmassy enough and it was leaning more towards Chinese New Year, which is a festivity that will happen later.
One netizen said, “respect those who celebrate Christmas, give way to Christmas first then only CNY. This is respect.”
Another added, “all these years, this mall is the best but this year, I think they got the wrong calendar.”
“There aren’t even Christmas trees. If you want to combine then combine it 50/50,” an eagle-eyed netizen mentioned.
Some netizens felt like the mall management “missed the mark” and made it seem like Christmas is not important in Sabah.
“This CNY deco is early. Sorry, but there is no Christmas spirit at all. The mall management missed the mark this time. It’s as if Christmas is not important in Sabah,” they said.
The 2020 Census has also noted that Christians make up 24% of the population in the state. In fact, Christmas is an important holiday in Sabah as even the eve is a public holiday there!
Well, we hope that this is a mistake that they will not repeat anymore.
Which mall’s decoration is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
