Japanese Christmas

The country of Japan has one of the most interesting means of celebrating Christmas in the world. While children around the world are sitting around brightly lit evergreen trees opening gifts that were delivered in the middle of the night from a jolly old man named Santa Claus, most Japanese children don't receive gifts. Small children do receive gifts on Christmas morning, but presents are generally not given to older children who don't believe in him.

That is about where the similarities between the meaning of Christmas in the western part of the world and the Japanese people's meaning of Christmas ends. In Japan, people are not usually granted time off from school and work as in western customs, because Christmas is not celebrated as an official holiday.

It is important to take into consideration that there is a variance between different households' celebration of the Christmas holiday because some households practice Christianity while others still practice Shinto or Buddhism in the home. For this reason, Japan has adopted a lot of the very same Christmas themes that the United States has commercialized, such as the red-faced and rotund version of Santa Claus, the workshop at the North Pole, the magical ability to pop into and out of chimneys, the flying sleigh pulled by reindeer, one in particular possessing a very bright nose. Japan also has its own version of Santa Claus, a man named Hoteoisho. Hoteoisho looks a lot like the commercialized version of Santa Claus. His apparel is similar, and he carries a large bag full of gifts for all of the children who have been on their best behavior that year. The celebration of Christmas in Japan does not focus so much on the birth of Jesus Christ as in other areas; instead, it is more a time for Christmas trees, gifts for the children, food, friends, and more-than-friends.

Most Japanese homes erect Christmas trees during the holiday season, and just as in the United States, some families in Japan will sit down to a turkey dinner, but New Year's tends to be more of an appropriate time to spend with the family. In Japan, Christmas is similar to the American version of Valentine's day. It's just as important to have a mate to spend Christmas Eve with as it is to have a Valentine on February 14. Christmas has been completely romanticized; this is the day where lovers do special things for one another, take romantic walks and exchange gifts. Christmas lights and decorations are strung up all over town during the Christmas season. They contribute to the Christmas spirit and the romantic atmosphere.

In some places in Japan where Christmas is celebrated, Christmas Cakes are baked. Christmas cakes are white frosting cakes, sometimes bearing fruit topping, that is said to symbolize a birthday cake for the baby Jesus. The Christmas cake in Japan is an important part of the holiday tradition.