Tomoko grew up in Japan, and celebrated Christmas because her
family was Christian. Now Christmas is Japan is more popular and more commercialized.
Here are some of the ways that people in Japan currently celebrate this holiday.
In Japanese Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Meri Kurisumasu',
written in the two Japanese scripts like this; Hiragana: めりーくりすます;
Katakana: メリークリスマス.
Santa is known as サンタさん、サンタクロース / Santa-san (Mr Santa) or サンタクロース
/ Santa-Kurosu (Santa Claus).
Even though Japan celebrates several holidays, Christmas is
not a national holiday. Schools often take a New Year break so December 25
often is included in those closed days. During this time, many families in
Japan like to visit Tokyo Disneyland to see the holiday decorations and parades.
More generally, Japanese public areas create displays of lights and have
seasonal lighting events. Japan also
hosts Christmas markers throughout the country. Children often have parties
with games and dancing, and will eat decorated sponge cake, but they usually
get only one gift at Christmas. For
adults, Christmas Eve is considered the most romantic day of the year; it is
their Valentine’s Day equivalent. And what is the favorite Japanese Christmas
meal? Kentucky Fried Chicken!
One Christmas activity that Tomoko would approve of is the performance
of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, especially its “Ode to Joy” section, which is
often sung in German.
