Christmas in Japan

[Sangetsu]

Here is an idea of what Christmas is like in Japan:

Christmas music began being played in Japanese stores the day after Halloween. Few Japanese know what the words to the songs mean, though any Japanese can hum the tunes.

Tokyu Hands and Don Quixote stores have begun selling Santa Claus suits, except that none of these "Santa" suits are for men, all are lingerie-like costumes for women.

7-11 is now taking orders for Christmas Cakes, which are small white cakes decorated with Strawberries. The traditional meal for a Japanese Christmas is Kentucky Fried Chicken, and even now people are making their Christmas Fried Chicken Dinner reservations. You cannot go to a KFC restaurant around here on Christmas day without a reservation. Some Japanese I have talked to assumed that eating at KFC on Christmas was also an American tradition, and they are surprised when they find out it isn't so.

There are no Christmas trees for sale in front of any stores here. The most you'll be able to find is a plastic tree at the afore-mentioned Tokyu Hands or Don Quixote stores.

Another interesting fact is that in Japan many stores will say "Merry Christmas" to you, even though there are very few Christians in Japan. No one gets offended. It's ironic than in a Christian-majority country like America, many stores discourage personnel from wishing customers "Merry Christmas". It's circumstances like this which I appreciate living in Japan.

[Reavyn]

I'm really not sure what to say about the KFC thing. Reservations? You all must have some very nice KFC's there....got any pics?

As for it being a Romantic holiday, with the cake and such, I'm amazed at how accurate Love Hina was with it. I'm really wanting one of those cakes now.

[xyzone]

I don't know about you but I probably will have KFC for Xmas. But as a VIP, no reservations needed.

[honoraryjapanesegirl]

And not everyone's Catholic either in the West.

There are Catholics, and Christians. Believe it or not Christians and Catholics have a lot of differences. But, it's true; Christmas is more of a 60:40 ratio of 60% commercialism, and 40% a deep, revered meaning. People are and have been forgetting why we celebrate what we celebrate, and that's it's not all about gifts and what-not for some people. But hey...their loss...lol...XD

~HonoraryJapaneseGirl~

[burkhartdesu]

There is no evidence that Jesus was born on December 25th... So then, who decided that Jesus' birth would be celebrated on that date?

The early Christian church did not celebrate Jesus' birth. It wasn't until A.D. 440 that the church proclaimed December 25 as the birth of Christ.

This was not based on any religious evidence but on a pagan feast. Saturnalia was a tradition inherited by the Roman pagans from an earlier Babylonian priesthood. December 25 was used as a celebration of the birthday of the sun god. It was observed near the winter solstice.


So every time we celebrate Christmas, we're actually just reliving an old astrological ritual

Not only that, but December 25th has been a popular date in other religions:

Attis, of Phyrigia, born of the virgin Nana on December 25th, crucified, placed in a tomb and after 3 days, was resurrected.

Krishna, of India, born of the virgin Devaki with a star in the east signaling his coming, performed miracles with his disciples, and upon his death was resurrected

Dionysus of Greece, born of a virgin on December 25th, was a traveling teacher who performed miracles such as turning water into wine

Mithra, of Persia, born of a virgin on December 25th, he had 12 disciples and performed miracles, and upon his death was buried for 3 days, and thus resurrected.

[Reavyn]

I didn't want this to turn into a religious debate. I was only wondering about the difference in culture.

[clintjm]

Originally Posted by MMM

The drama on JF needs to wind itself down.

99.9% of Christmas in the US is not about commercialism.

Not everyone has forgotten the "true meaning of Christmas".

Instead of being a nay-saying Scrooge, be a person that makes Christmas what is important to you. Complaining about it is meaningless. It's all about attitude. You can have a good one or a bad one. That's all up to you.

bump that.


Anyway despite a small percentage of Japanese being Christian, the idea and spirit of Christmas and the season is quite nice I thought during the few years I lived there and when I there during the holiday. It kind of carries over with the bigger new year holiday. A time for being with people (even if the giving is not in the form of lots of gift giving).

Japanese go all out for the holiday the week of Christmas. Christmas celebration of the miles of beautiful decoration and miles of amazing Christmas light show shine through in an event to get people out to share the holiday or at least the party aspect of it...

Despite it not being a Japanese holiday, the amount of money, design and work done on the christmas lighting decoration in many parts of big city downtown is mind boggling. Absolutely stunning and beautiful. Most American cities would don't go to the lengths Japan does for the lighting display. But the fact is the BIG light shows are only there for a week at most and literally come down after midnight. I saw Christmas decorations being taken down at 12:30a ... 12/26 that same night downtown.
In the states... its like mid to late January for some people ^_^
The point is they don't drag the holiday around for 2 months like we do.... (Aside from the point that SanGetsu reminded me of just now... as they do play some deep christmas tunes starting in November in department stores - which I don't think many American stores do much of anymore - Xmas music that is.)

Anyway the US is just making Christmas a little less every year and need to take a step back and enjoy an exchange of a gift or two and just take some time. Instead, for many, people just stress out. I was sickened to see on the US news recently that some retail giants were opened on Thanksgiving Day for a pre-black friday sale; as for the shoppers many just don't know what else to do.

Its funny though, that Japan, who really doesn't hold the modern Christmas traditions like Christians do, have made it into a tradition that is far less stressful and pleasant than the American Christmas tradition. (For some)

Sangetsu also had a good point. You can still say Merry Christmas to some without it offending someone. Or perhaps some Christmas decoration or tree. This is really what is slowly eating America from the inside out.

Washington State Bans Holiday Displays Inside Capitol

Anyway MMM had the best point in this quoted above...
Despite some of the points in my qwerky post.

[Reavyn]

Originally Posted by clintjm

bump that.


Anyway despite a small percentage of Japanese being Christian, the idea and spirit of Christmas and the season is quite nice I thought during the few years I lived there and when I there during the holiday. It kind of carries over with the bigger new year holiday. A time for being with people (even if the giving is not in the form of lots of gift giving).

Japanese go all out for the holiday the week of Christmas. Christmas celebration of the miles of beautiful decoration and miles of amazing Christmas light show shine through in an event to get people out to share the holiday or at least the party aspect of it...

Despite it not being a Japanese holiday, the amount of money, design and work done on the christmas lighting decoration in many parts of big city downtown is mind boggling. Absolutely stunning and beautiful. Most American cities would don't go to the lengths Japan does for the lighting display. But the fact is the BIG light shows are only there for a week at most and literally come down after midnight. I saw Christmas decorations being taken down at 12:30a ... 12/26 that same night downtown.
In the states... its like mid to late January for some people ^_^
The point is they don't drag the holiday around for 2 months like we do.... (Aside from the point that SanGetsu reminded me of just now... as they do play some deep christmas tunes starting in November in department stores - which I don't think many American stores do much of anymore - Xmas music that is.)

Anyway the US is just making Christmas a little less every year and need to take a step back and enjoy an exchange of a gift or two and just take some time. Instead, for many, people just stress out. I was sickened to see on the US news recently that some retail giants were opened on Thanksgiving Day for a pre-black friday sale; as for the shoppers many just don't know what else to do.

Its funny though, that Japan, who really doesn't hold the modern Christmas traditions like Christians do, have made it into a tradition that is far less stressful and pleasant than the American Christmas tradition. (For some)

Sangetsu also had a good point. You can still say Merry Christmas to some without it offending someone. Or perhaps some Christmas decoration or tree. This is really what is slowly eating America from the inside out.

Washington State Bans Holiday Displays Inside Capitol

Anyway MMM had the best point in this quoted above...
Despite some of the points in my qwerky post.

It's funny, there are very few holidays left in the US that aren't bogged down by commercialism. Even black Friday has started ruining Thanksgiving. Really, about the only holiday left is 4th of July.

[JustinRossTso]

It snows in Japan right?... so there must be some form of Christmas right?

I really love Christmas even though I am not Christian. Do Japanese people celebrate it in Japan? What do they do?

I'm just curious, and it's getting close to Christmas time ;D!

EDIT: Whoops I found a thread on it already... but if you guys still have other information to add it would be nice ;D!

Sorry!

[RobinMask]

Originally Posted by JustinRossTso

It snows in Japan right?... so there must be some form of Christmas right?

Why do you think that snow means that there must be Christmas? Christmas is a religious/cultural celebration, not one connected to weather.