Christmas in Japan was first introduced to the country in the 16th century by Europeans. However, the holiday didn't become popular in the country until the last 30 years. What is really interesting about this is that Christmas has become popular even though only 2% of Japanese are Christians. It should first be noted that Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan.
However, during the Christmas holidays, many people in Japan use the traditional decorations that are normally associated with Christmas, such as putting up Christmas trees or having special meals at their homes.
A number of surveys have been conducted on the subject of Christmas in Japan, and it has been consistently found that over 50% of the Japanese who responded to the survey said that they considered Christmas to be special and important. It should also be noted that within this group, women and teens seemed to be much more interested in Christmas than men.
However, the entities in Japan which are really excited by the Christmas holidays are merchants and retail stores. Many of the traditional decorations for Christmas such as Christmas trees can be found in many Japanese stores weeks before the Holiday starts.
Traditionally, when it comes to holiday cuisine, Christmas in Japan often involves eating Christmas cake, which will normally be a type of sponge cake, along with whipped cream and strawberries. Over 70% of the Japanese who took the surveys said that they usually ate cake during the holidays. Many people feel that the importance of Christmas in Japan lies more in the profits which can be generated during this holiday rather than the religious meaning that is connected to it.
Though both Japanese and Westerners celebrate this holiday, many Westerners traditionally associate it with Christ. However, over time, the holiday has become more commercialized,and some would say that the role it plays in both cultures has become quite similar.
Japan Tip #1
If you are planning on traveling to the orient, one fact about japan that you should know is that you must have local currency (yen) on hand before you leave the airport. Taxi, buses and other transportation services do not accept debit or credit cards or any other currency except the yen. |
Japan Tip #2
Another fact about Japan to remember is that it is considered impolite and even rude to offer a monetary tip to a Japanese person. Some finer establishments may reqire a tip type fee, but it will be included in your bill. So remember don't tip your waiter or waitress or the bell boy, or even the taxi driver, instead save your money. |
Japan Tip #3
One of the most confusing facts about Japan is known as the consumption tax. The consumption tax is a feel that is applied to all purchases made in Japan and is currently at 5%. This means that whatever the price of the item you are buying, you need to add an additional 5% to the price. Be aware that some stores include this tax in the price of the item and some stores do not, so it is better to ask if you are in doubt. |
|
|
