Now Christmas around the world is a big thing. This is precisely because Christmas observances are not the same throughout the world. With the basic sense of happiness, well-being and prosperity prevailing everywhere, Christmas celebration varies considerably from place to place. This section may provide a helpful understanding.

Christmas In Japan

Christmas saw its genesis in Japan with the arrival of the Christian missionaries and for years together it was celebrated by the people who were the ardent follower of this faith. However, it was not until the 20th century that it was universally celebrated here and gained its importance in the cities. It is believed that the people became familiar with this holiday through their merchandising of Christmas gifts for the other countries. Of late, Christmas seems to be celebrated en masse in its actual significance on December 25th, though that day is not declared to be a Japanese national holiday. Unless it is Sunday, Japanese people don’t take time off their work, busily performing their daily chores, on that day.

Christmas is mostly a commercial event in Japan. The western customs like buying and exchanging of gifts for the occasion, serving turkey as a delicacy to delight one’s guest on the D-day and adorning the community tree with mistletoe and tinsel accompanied by carol singing are all a part of this occasion, very much akin to the style of the western community. Christmas decorations in Japan are deemed to be a visual delight as the city lies embellished in paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns, wind chimes and small candles. One of the most popular ornaments for decoration is the origami swan. Here too, there is the concept of the good, old, kind-hearted adorable figure of the Santa Claus, an absolute favorite with the kids. There is the priest known as Hoteiosho, who closely relates to Santa Claus, for he is imagined to be an old man carrying a huge sack with eyes in the back of his head, which is a way to ensure that children are well-behaved even in his absence, so that all their chances of receiving gifts are no more at stake. Children here address their Santa as “San Kurohsu”.

There are two special Japanese Christmas traditions: First and foremost is the Daiku, or Great Nine, which refers to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony which is traditionally performed in innumerable places at Christmas time, sometimes with huge massed choruses for the famous part with what American Christians sing as a hymn-Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee. Secondly, is the palpable Christmas Cake. Japanese tend to celebrate the Christmas Eve by munching on Christmas cake, whose price is discounted on 25th December, in order to sell off everything by 26th. All this has resulted in a subtle nuance whereby the young Japanese girls are alluded as "Christmas Cake", hinting at the fact that they are marriageable until their 25th birthday and later requiring heavy discounts (perhaps implying dowry) to be wed off. Till today, the buttercream or fresh cream cake has been the popular Japanese Christmas cake. Above all, Christmas for them is an occasion to spend quality time in the company of their family and loved ones, just as it is in the rest part of the world.