Christmas in Japan is a bit different from here. The major religion in Japan is Buddhism and Shinto, so Christmas is more commercial event. The main celebration revolves around Christmas eve and not Christmas day.
In Japan it is common to give Christmas presents. Within the family parents give presents to their children, but the children do not give presents to the parents. The reasoning behind this is that only Santa bring presents, so once the children no longer believe in Santa the presents are no longer given.
Most Japanese families would have a Christmas tree and now it is becoming very common to have lights on the outside of houses as you would see in Australia.
For single women in Japan it is really crucial to have someone to spend Christmas eve with. It is also really important for them where they spend Christmas eve and what present they receive. The whole evening must be very special, gorgeous and romantic. Japanese women who have a boy friend tend to show off, so women who don't are not happy to talk about the topic. There also used to be a sarcasm that Christmas is compared with a woman's age. Cake shops throughout Japan always try to sell all their Christmas cakes before Christmas eve. Any cakes left after Christmas are seen to be very old or out of date. Women over 25 years old used to be said 'unsold Xmas cake.' It's a bit bad joke, though. However, nowadays, the average age for marriage has changed, getting older and older, and it is a history.
Christmas is one a few holidays that is celebrated in Japan with as many traditions as there are of countries. Whether the symbols of Christmas are the candles, singing carols, or Santa Kurohsu, the spirit rarely changes: the spirit of peace, giving gifts and good will towards everyone. Christmas began at the beginning of the 20th century and is sure to keep on going.
Customs:
There are 2 special customs in Japan: First, the daiku, or Great nine, which refers to Beethoven's ninth symphony. This is performed in many places at Christmas time ( also New Year), sometimes with huge masses of choruses for the most famous part, with what Americans sing as a hymn- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.
The second custom, is the Christmas cake. Christmas in Japan just wouldn't be the same without it. It's a blessing to the Japanese bakery industries, that's for sure, because this is not a home project. Japanese are shocked when told that America knows of no Christmas cake and that it is a Japanese custom.
Food:
Japanese families eat turkey mainly on Christmas Day, but some eat it on Christmas Eve depending on their custom.
Christmas Tree
There are no live Christmas trees in Japan, only artificial trees. Not that many houses have their own tree yet, but are starting to appear more often at Christmas time. The trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans, lanterns and wind chimes. The most popular ornament us the 'origami swan.' The Christmas tree is placed in hospitals to lift the spirit of the sick.
Decorations
Mistletoe and evergreen are hung from the ceilings. Tinsels and lights are hung in the dance halls, cafes and pinball parlours (where 'modern- minded' Japanese go to celebrate). An amulet for good luck is placed on the front door. 1000% of lights at shops have increased within approx. 7 years. Japanese children exchange thousands of 'birds of peace' in the past, of the pledge that war must not occur again.
Gifts
For a few weeks before Christmas, shops set up displays of appropriate gifts for men, women and children (especially children). On Christmas day, families sit around the tree to exchange their gifts, whether it be at their house, relatives or friends. For some families who have Christmas trees, they'd gather the presents under the tree.
Santa
Santa Kurohsu, as people call Santa in Japan is a popular character at Christmas time. Japan Santa does not yet appear in person, like in shopping centers. He is only pictured as advertising foil. Santa is pictured as a kind old man, carrying a round sack on his back. He is known to have eyes on the back of his head, so he can watch the children all year round.
Church
Most churches will have their own special Christmas worship service on the nearest Sunday before the 25th of December and perhaps on Christmas Eve.
Nativity
The story of 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 in the nativity, many become familiar for the first time with a cradle, for Japanese babies have not slept traditionally in cradles. Others may even put on plays about the birth of Jesus.
Christ/History Christianity
Japan is pretty low with 1% believing in Christ, with a few truly understanding the significance of the birth of Jesus. The Christian faith was first introduced in Japan by Jesuit and later by Franciscan missionaries in the 16th century. There were probably about 300,000 baptised believers in Japan.
Carols
In some homes Christmas carols are sung gaily. One of the most popular song is Silent Night. Children are chosen to sing carols to the patients in hospitals. Some carols are sung in shops (some songs are sung in English).
No comments:
Post a Comment