{"id":75946,"date":"2020-12-23T18:50:51","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T09:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=75946"},"modified":"2021-11-19T20:34:08","modified_gmt":"2021-11-19T11:34:08","slug":"christmas-how-japan-celebrate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/christmas-how-japan-celebrate\/","title":{"rendered":"Tradition and Meaning of Christmas From a Japanese Point of View"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since the beginning of November, Japan is immersed in a totally Christmasy atmosphere: full of lights, Christmas products in stores, and carols everywhere<\/strong>. With all these classic images of Christmas, I’m sure that Japan will still surprise you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After working with the “What to do during Christmas in Japan<\/strong><\/a>” article, I needed to go further. So, I had the opportunity to speak with different Japanese people. I could better understand their concept of this celebration, above all, why I had mixed feelings when experiencing my first Christmas in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let’s discover how Japanese people live Christmas season! | \u00a9 Guido Hofmann<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Is Christmas a Popular Celebration in Japan? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Without any doubt, this celebration is important one in Japanese culture, and there is no one in Japan who doesn’t know the word \u30af\u30ea\u30b9\u30de\u30b9 <\/strong>(kurisumasu<\/em>, meaning “Christmas”.) Everyone thinks of Christmas as a time of happiness, illumination, and food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you ask them, “What day is Christmas?” you will notice that something is different. My answer would be that my Christmas starts on the 24th at night and ends on the 26th. And perhaps, in other countries, the answer may be slightly different. But Japan goes further<\/strong>. Several who I asked told me that “Christmas begins when Halloween ends.<\/strong>” And Halloween<\/a> ends on October 31st!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This picture was taken in November 2019, I couldn’t believe that a decorated tree was set up so early. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I concluded that this festivity in Japan is a period that builds up to the official day of Christmas<\/strong> and not just one specific day. From the moment stores change their shop windows from pumpkins to Santa Claus, Japan is already living the Christmas season, and All I Want for Christmas<\/em> by Mariah Carey sounds everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Japan hasn’t got a Christian tradition, it has integrated Christmas in its own way, <\/strong>choosing what they like the most and ignoring the traditional meanings, which, obviously, don’t fit into their culture or traditional religion. Why celebrate the birth of the son of a Christian God if the predominant religion is Buddhist and Shinto?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Christmas in Hokkaido. \u00a9 Joachim Ducos<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the religious fact, it is obvious that the Japanese understand these holidays as a day to celebrate happiness and joy since many of them created this idea from the products of Western countries. <\/strong>Stop and think for a moment: don’t Christmas movies talk about the power of love and magic relationships? In there, you will only see happiness, lights, love, and many couples. And when you experience it in Japan, you realize that the country integrates all these clich\u00e9s into its celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A child in front of a christmasy shop window. \u00a9 Cl\u00e9mentine<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Do Japanese People Celebrate Christmas in Japan?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

December 24th<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In every western country, the day before the 25th is known as Christmas Eve.<\/strong> Even the way of celebrating depends on your traditions, though the meaning is similar: spending time with the family<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, it is a completely different attitude. December 24 is like a second Valentine’s Day.<\/strong> Japanese people think that the 24th is a perfect day to spend with the person they love due to the classic images of lovers hand in hand in Western Christmas movies. So, this day’s expected plan is walking under the illuminations, ice skating, exchanging gifts, and having a romantic dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n