| Christmas is not celebrated like it is in the west. | | | | families have a small evergreen tree in their home |
| Christmas is seen more as a commercial event | | | | which may be mistaken for a Christmas tree yet it is |
| particularly embraced and encouraged by merchants. | | | | actually a traditional Japanese religious decoration for |
| In Japan Christmas is mainly about gift giving and | | | | the new year. New year's day is the most important |
| romance! The major religion in Japan is Buddhism and | | | | day of the whole calendar in Japan. However artificial |
| Shinto with only 1 per cent of Japanese people being | | | | Christmas trees are now appearing in shops but not |
| of a Christian faith or belief. Hence most Japanese | | | | yet popular. People are also placing lights on the |
| people are unaware of Christmas religious roots and | | | | outside of houses for decoration while shops are |
| customs. Even among the Christian Japanese, | | | | keenly seen to be glowing with decorations and |
| Christmas is not a day for the family like it is in | | | | particularly lights. |
| America and Europe. There is no traditional meal or | | | | While we in the west are following traditional |
| plum pudding instead it is a day spent giving to others | | | | Christmas customs in December, in Japan they are |
| especially doing nice things for those that are sick in | | | | preparing for their most celebrated day of the year |
| hospitals. | | | | New Years Day. People prepare by thoroughly |
| However it is common in Japan to give Christmas | | | | cleaning their houses on new years eve then adding |
| presents. The main celebration in Japan revolves | | | | special decorations. People dress in their finest clothes |
| around Christmas eve and not Christmas day. | | | | often being traditional Japanese kimonos. A tradition |
| Presents are given to children but children do not give | | | | is for the father of the house to be followed by all |
| presents back to their parents. The idea is that only | | | | the family as he marches throughout the house |
| Santa brings presents so once you no longer believe | | | | driving away evil spirits. Custom is for the father to |
| no presents are given! | | | | bid evil spirits to withdraw and good luck to enter as |
| In Japan Hoteiosho is a priest or a God who closely | | | | he throws dried beans into corners of each room. |
| resembles our Santa Claus. Hoteiosho is depicted as a | | | | The family then attends the Shinto Shrine where |
| kind old man carrying a huge pack in which he brings | | | | they clap hands to get the attention of the gods and |
| presents to local houses for the children. Children | | | | request good fortune. People send new years day |
| think he has eyes in the back of his head, so they | | | | cards like people send Christmas cards in west. |
| behave at their best in case he is nearby. | | | | Christmas time especially Christmas eve is a time for |
| The Christian faith was first introduced into Japan in | | | | boyfriend and girlfriend to get together, exchange |
| the sixteenth century by Jesuit and later by | | | | gifts and spend a romantic dinner and evening |
| Franciscan missionaries. Even though few in Japan are | | | | together much like Valentines day celebrated in the |
| Christian or have an understanding of traditional | | | | west. Advertisements appear for special Christmas |
| Christmas customs, in a survey conducted by among | | | | eve and Christmas day hotel and restaurant dinners |
| young Japanese people, a majority of 54 percent | | | | and shows, generally with a strong romance theme. |
| responded that Christmas today means something | | | | Its been said that single women dont like to talk |
| special to them, with women and teenagers showing | | | | about the Christmas occasion as they feel left out. |
| a particular attraction. | | | | There has been much sarcasm towards single |
| In another survey done by 74 percent of people | | | | women alone on Christmas eve. As an example cake |
| responded to celebrate Christmas in Japan with a | | | | shops with cakes left after Christmas are seen as |
| Christmas cake. Their Christmas cake is usually made | | | | being old and out of date. Women of 25 years and |
| of sponge cake, strawberries and whipped cream or | | | | older who are single have been referred to jokingly |
| just as popular is a strawberry gateau. | | | | as unsold Christmas cake. |
| Most people decorate their shops and homes with | | | | Wondering how to say Merry Christmas in Japanese? |
| evergreens during the Christmas period. Japanese | | | | Its simply Merry Christmas! |