Christmas Traditions in Japan |
There are not very many Christmas traditions in Japan. The main reason for this is because most of the Japanese population simply are not Christian. The holiday is so exciting that some are starting to celebrate it and create new traditions in spite of that fact.
The different traditions are fun to examine. While most countries that celebrate Christmas have a Santa Clause, Japan has Hotei-osho. He does bring presents from how to house. This is one of the most beloved Christmas traditions in Japan because it means that people exchange gifts. That is one of the best parts for all countries!
This Hotei-osho is a bit different than the Santa many have come to know and love. While the traditional Santa is a jolly old man with a long white beard and red cap, the Japanese Santa is said to have eyes in the back of his head. This is a story that is told to children so that they behave themselves.
There are other Christmas traditions in Japan that will seem familiar to many. One of these is to sing Christmas carols together. Beethoven’s 9th is often performed as well with these carols.
One of the favorite traditions is making a Christmas cake. Bakeries love to get in on this tradition because it is a great way to show off their wares. This is purely a Japanese tradition, though many of them are surprised to find that it is not a usual custom in other countries.
Something that is catching on is having lights around as part of the Christmas traditions in Japan. It is no wonder as the sparkle and twinkle add a lot of joy into everyone’s lives. Some are even starting to have Christmas trees as another place to place their lights.
Even though many are getting in the Christmas spirit each year the holiday is simply not as important to many of the people in Japan as New Year’s day is. Families truly come together on that day. This is in contrast to when Christian cultures get together as a whole.
Christmas traditions in Japan are in their infancy. It is not a Christian country, but there are still many who consider Christmas to be a special time. They are developing their own wonderful customs and the spirit of the holiday will certainly catch on more and more.
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