Christmas is not celebrated like in the West. Christmas is seen more as a commercial event that is particularly welcomed and encouraged by merchants. In Japan, Christmas is mostly about gift-giving and romance! The main religion in Japan is Buddhism and Shinto, with only 1 percent of Japanese of Christian faith or belief. Therefore, most of the Japanese are unaware of Christmas religious roots and customs. Even among Japanese Christians, Christmas is not a family day like it is in America and Europe. There is no traditional food or plum pudding, instead it is a day dedicated to giving to others, especially doing good things for those who are sick in hospitals.
However, it is common in Japan to give Christmas gifts. The main celebration in Japan revolves around Christmas Eve and not Christmas Day. Gifts are given to children, but children do not return gifts to their parents. The idea is that only Santa Claus brings gifts, so once you no longer believe, no gifts are given!
In Japan, Hoteiosho is a priest or a God who looks a lot like our Santa Claus. Hoteiosho is depicted as a kind old man carrying a huge package in which he brings gifts to local houses for children. The children think he has eyes in the back of his head, so they are on their best behavior in case he is around.
The Christian faith was first introduced to Japan in the 16th century by the Jesuits and later by Franciscan missionaries. Although few in Japan are Christians or know traditional Christmas customs, in a survey conducted by http://www.japan-guide.com among Japanese youth, a majority of 54 percent responded that Christmas today means something special to them, with women and teenagers showing a particular attraction.
In another survey conducted by http://www.japan-guide.com, 74 percent of people responded to celebrate Christmas in Japan with a Christmas cake. Their Christmas cake is usually made of sponge cake, strawberries and whipped cream or, just as popular, it is a strawberry shortcake.
Most of the people decorate their shops and homes with evergreen trees during the Christmas period. Japanese families have a small evergreen tree in their home that may be mistaken for a Christmas tree, but is actually a traditional Japanese religious decoration for the new year. New Year’s Day is the most important day on the entire calendar in Japan. However, artificial Christmas trees are now appearing in stores, but they are not yet popular. People are also putting lights on the outside of houses to decorate, while shops are glowing with decorations and particularly lights.
While we in the West follow the traditional Christmas customs in December, in Japan they are preparing for their most celebrated day of the year, “New Year’s Day”. People prepare by deep cleaning their houses on New Year’s Eve and then adding special decorations. People dress in their best clothes, often traditional Japanese kimonos. One tradition is that the father of the house is followed by the whole family as he marches through the house driving away evil spirits. The custom is for the father to order the evil spirits out and good luck getting them in while he throws dried beans into the corners of each room. The family then attends the Shinto Shrine where they clap to get the attention of the “gods” and ask for good fortune. People send New Years cards like people send Christmas cards in the West.
Christmas time, especially Christmas Eve, is a time for bride and groom to get together, exchange gifts, and spend a romantic dinner and evening together like Valentine’s Day celebrated in the west. Advertisements for special dining and shows appear in hotels and restaurants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, usually with a strong romantic theme. It has been said that single women do not like to talk about the Christmas occasion because they feel left out. There has been a lot of sarcasm towards single women alone on Christmas Eve. As an example, pastry shops with cakes left over after Christmas are considered old and outdated. Women aged 25 and over who are single have been jokingly referred to as ‘unsold Christmas cake’.
Wondering how to say “Merry Christmas” in Japanese? It’s just ‘Merry Christmas’! Although writing ‘Merry Christmas’ in Japanese is a bit trickier: メリークリスマス
