Holy nativity scenes! Tis almost Christmas!
Hey everyone, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I’ve had a lot of folks back home asking me if Japan celebrates Christmas so I thought I’d do some internationalization and lay out the exciting details about how Santa, Baby Jesus, and Rudolph are recognized here.
First, YES, Christmas is celebrated in Japan. BUT like all western things importer here, Christmas doesn’t look/feel like it does back home. Right now all over Japan there are Christmas decorations like illumination, Santa and Frosty posters, and precariously placed reindeer on rooftops. Many stores and businesses have Christmas trees, but as far as I can tell they’re all artificial (which makes sense since trees are precious in Japan and used only for making chopsticks).
Second, some people so exchange gifts…but this is mostly with parents giving a few things to children or couples exchanging gifts. I don’t think there is any concept of Santa being the one to deliver the gifts since Japanese homes don’t have chimneys (so how on earth would the fat man get inside?!).
Third, the food…omg, this is the best part. Back home, the food at Christmas time is some of the best all year. The turkey, pies, casseroles…all so wonderful. But here in Japan, people eat KFC and cake.
Hey everyone, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I’ve had a lot of folks back home asking me if Japan celebrates Christmas so I thought I’d do some internationalization and lay out the exciting details about how Santa, Baby Jesus, and Rudolph are recognized here.
First, YES, Christmas is celebrated in Japan. BUT like all western things importer here, Christmas doesn’t look/feel like it does back home. Right now all over Japan there are Christmas decorations like illumination, Santa and Frosty posters, and precariously placed reindeer on rooftops. Many stores and businesses have Christmas trees, but as far as I can tell they’re all artificial (which makes sense since trees are precious in Japan and used only for making chopsticks).
Second, some people so exchange gifts…but this is mostly with parents giving a few things to children or couples exchanging gifts. I don’t think there is any concept of Santa being the one to deliver the gifts since Japanese homes don’t have chimneys (so how on earth would the fat man get inside?!).
Third, the food…omg, this is the best part. Back home, the food at Christmas time is some of the best all year. The turkey, pies, casseroles…all so wonderful. But here in Japan, people eat KFC and cake.
Yes, some how KFC pulled off a “Christmas Chicken Bucket Ruse” and the cake companies added to this by creating the “Christmas Cake Myth”…so many people order up a special holiday KFC bucket (must order in advance) and finish the finger-licking meal off with a lovely cake. When I tell Japanese people that Americans don’t eat these things at Christmas, they always give me they shocked “really?!” face.
So Christmas is a bit different here in Japan…but as we all know, the Christmas spirit isn’t something around us, but rather it’s something inside us (cue cheesy “awwwe”).
I’ll be here in Beppu for the big day, and then taking a trip up to Kansai for New Year’s…which is the big holiday in Japan. I’ll let you guys know how it all goes.
So Christmas is a bit different here in Japan…but as we all know, the Christmas spirit isn’t something around us, but rather it’s something inside us (cue cheesy “awwwe”).
I’ll be here in Beppu for the big day, and then taking a trip up to Kansai for New Year’s…which is the big holiday in Japan. I’ll let you guys know how it all goes.
