CHRISTMAS IN JAPAN!

Christmas has only been widely celebrated in Japan for the last few decades. It's still not seen as a religious holiday or celebration as there are not many Christians in Japan. Now several traditions that came to Japan from the USA such as sending and receiving Christmas Cards and Presents are becoming popular.

In Japan, Christmas in known more as a time to spread happiness rather than a religious celebration. Christmas Eve is often celebrated more than Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is thought to be a romantic day, in which couples spend the day together and exchange presents. In many ways it resembles Valentine's Day celebrations in the UK and the USA. Young couples like to go for walks and to look at the Christmas lights, as well as having a romantic meal in a restaurant. Christmas celebration is a special festivity when Japanese people help to the community and to poor people.

Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan. However, schools are often closed on Christmas Day. The Emperor's birthday is a national holiday on the 23rd December and there's also a New Year school break. So the holiday break often starts around the 23rd. But most businesses will treat the 25th as a 'normal' working day.

In Japanese Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Meri Kurisumasu'. And it's written in the two Japanese scripts like this; Hiragana: めりーくりすます; Katakana: メリークリスマス. 

The Japanese New Year (called 'o shogatsu') is more like a traditional Western Christmas. New Year is the period when families get together, have a special meal, pray and send greetings cards. New Year is celebrated over five days from December 31st to January 4^th.

DECORATION

The tradition of the Christmas tree was brought into Japan by Christian missionaries, but the first modern Christmas tree appeared in Ginza, around 1910.

At the beginning, Japanese people decorated the Christmas tree with specific Japanese ornaments: small fans and paper lanterns, origami birds, animals… or even Santa Claus.

The decorations of the Christmas traditions of Japan include all the elements. The Nativity scene is given a corner in every house.

CHRISTMAS CHARACTER’S NAME

In the American tradition, Santa Claus is the bearer of gifts for children who have behaved well all throughout the year. The Japanese also have this type of figure.  His name is Hotei-osho (ほていおしょ).  He’s a buddhist monk, with a large belly and a cloth sack full of toys.  He has eyes in the back of his head, which means that he’s able to see the children and how they behave without them knowing.  Hoteisosho (ほていおしょ) is one of the seven gods of fortune.  He’s one of the more jovial, happy-go-lucky chaps, which is very convenient.

FOOD

Fried chicken is often eaten on Christmas day. It is the busiest time of the year for restaurants such as KFC and people can place orders at their local fast food restaurant in advance. There was an advertising campaign by KFC in the 1974 called 'Kentucky for Christmas!' (Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!) which was very successful and made KFC popular for Christmas.

The traditional Japanese Christmas food is Christmas cake, not a rich fruit cake but a sponge cake decorated with strawberries, whipped cream, trees, flowers and a figure of Santa Claus. Parties are often held for children, with games and dancing.