Christmas in Japan

Yes, that's old Santa-san promoting a Pachinko parlour. People've been asking what Christmas is like over here and it is our duty to report that it is surprisingly similar to the American version. There aren't ornament-strewn bonsais all over, no. There are fake firs as fine as Wal Mart would make I assure you. I'm sure they're made in China like their American counterparts. There are of course minor differences:

- not much emphasis on the whole CHRIST thing,
- Families gather and eat a special cake on Xmas Eve
- Light on gifts as New Years is much heavier on that

In fact, New Years seems to be the important holiday. Seems the opposite of in America to me... we celebrate New years for festivity, etc., and have a more family focus (or religious focus) on Christmas.
Here in Japan, people seem to spend xmas having fun; going out with friends or lovers, etc. Then New Years is spent with family, at the shrine, at home etc. Families might go to the shrines together either on New Year's eve or NY day. We've heard people stay up to see the first sunrise of the year. My friend Tomomi will climb to the top of one of the mountains around here for that 1st sunrise. This is what I hope to do too, if I can find a trail that leads up far enough.

Here are some other seasonal shots that could very well have been taken in your own locale:




Homemade cards are big too. We got a brick from some students:


And of course, there are always honky Gaijins around to spread the Christmas cheer:



One major Christmas-y thing we missed out on was the luminary in Kobe. We went down there, but two days after it shut down apparently. It's more "Winter Celebration" than Christmas-specific, but you can see it at fellow ALTs Marlene's BLOG.