Well it's
that time again :o) The leaves are changing color on the trees,
the wind is howling louder letting you know that it's cold and
bitter outside. Winter time is here! And of course that means
Christmas is on its way!! Most of you know the tradition that
people follow in the United States, but what about some place
different? Several miles apart from where you will be celebrating
Christmas this year.... So I thought I would tell you a little
about Christmas in Japan. How they celebrate it, and get you in
the mood for Christmas :) So here we go..... ^_^
Christmas in Japan is a relatively new celebration which is celebrated mainly in the cities. The popularity of Christmas began at the beginning of the 20th century. Christmas was introduced in Japan by the Christian missionaries, and for many years the only people who celebrated it were those who had turned to the Christian faith.
But now the Christmas season in Japan
is full of meaning and is almost universally observed. The idea
of exchanging gifts seems to appeal strongly to the Japanese people.
The tradesmen have 
commercialized
Christmas just as our western shops have done. For several weeks
before the day, the stores shout Christmas. There are decorations
and wonderful displays of appropriate gifts for men, women, and
children -- especially children. For most of the Japanese who
celebrate Christmas, it’s purely a secular holiday devoted
to the love of their children. Christmas decorations abound throughout
the cities. Tinsel and lights are hung in dance halls, cafes,
and pinball parlors where “modern- minded” Japanese
go to celebrate. The trees are decorated with small toys, dolls,
paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns, and wind chimes.
Miniature candles are also put among the tree branches. One of
the most popular ornaments is the origami swan. Japanese children
have exchanged thousands of folded paper “birds of peace”
with young people all over the world as a pledge that war must
not happen again.
The story of the Child Jesus born in a manger is fascinating to the little girls of Japan, for they love anything having to do with babies. In the scene of the Nativity they become familiar for the first time with a cradle, for Japanese babies never sleep in cradles.
Many western customs in observing Christmas
have been adopted by the Japanese. Besides exchanging gifts they
eat turkey on Christmas Day, and in some places there are even
community
Christmas trees.
They decorate their houses with evergreens and mistletoe, and
in some homes Christmas carols are sung gaily.
At the end of November merchandising heralds the onset of the season. Santa's show up in some advertising and Christmas carols can be heard in stores. (In English!) Also advertisements appear for special Christmas eve and Christmas day hotel & restaurant dinners and shows, generally with a strong romance theme. More and more Christmas lights are going up each year on stores and at malls, and some lights can be seen on a few private homes.
Christmas trees (artificial --- there is no live Christmas tree market) however, have begun to appear in the occasional home, and can be bought in big department stores. Santa does not yet appear in person, only as an advertising foil. And the airwaves are not clogged with TV specials. There are two special Japanese Christmas customs: First, the Daiku, or Great Nine, which refers to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. This is traditionally performed in many places at Christmas time (though probably as much in conjuction with the New Year), sometimes with huge massed choruses for the famous part with what American Christians sing as a hymn --- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee. The second custom is the Christmas Cake. What Christmas would be complete without its Christmas Cake? How have you survived without one so long? ^_^ Well, it's a blessing to the Japanese bakery industry, that's for sure, because this is not a home project. One buys the Christmas Cake..
Many of the Japanese people take this
time of the year to do special things for others. For instance,
hospitals are decorated with a Christmas tree to lift the spirits
of the sick. Children are chosen to sing carols to the patients.
Others may even put on plays about the birth of Jesus. Japanese
children call Santa “Santa Kurohsu” he is also known
to some as "Hoteiosho" and he is believed to have 
eyes in the back of his head so
that he can watch the children all year long. It is extremely
important for the children to be good when this all-seeing gentleman
is abroad.^_^
New Year's Day is the most important day of the whole calendar in Japan. On New Year's Eve the houses are cleaned thoroughly from top to bottom, and are decorated for the morrow. when everything has been made clean and neat the people of the house dress themselves in their finest clothes. Then the father of the household marches through the house, followed by all the family, and drives the evil spirits out. He throws dried beans into every corner bidding the evil spirits withdraw and good luck enter.
People think New Year's Day is more important in Japan than Christmas.
Of course Christmas is a kind of enjoyable day and they celebrate
the day. On the other hand New Year's Day is one of Japan's rituals,
an important day. Japanese stay up late, welcoming the day. On
the New Year's Day they have a special dinner in the morning.
They exchange the words, "OMEDETO GOZAIMASU (congratulations)"
whenever they meet the first time instead of saying "Hello",or
"Good morning"," Good afternoon" or "Good
evening." Children are lucky to get special allowances, not
just from their parents, but their relatives or neighbors. At
the first meal they have a toast, saying"Omedeto gozaimasu"
with a small glass of Japanese sake mixed with special ingredients
which is called "Toso" or "Otoso".
So there you go :) now you know something about Christmas in another country on the other side of the world. Hmmm Don't you feel like getting into the Christmas mood now? well at least I know I do ^_^ haha I hope that each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
