 Christmas
is one a few holidays that is celebrated in Japan with as many traditions
as there are of countries. Whether the symbols of Christmas are the
candles, singing carols, or Santa Kurohsu, the spirit rarely changes: the
spirit of peace, giving gifts and good will towards everyone. Christmas
began at the beginning of the 20th century and is sure to keep
on going.
Customs
There are 2 special customs in Japan:
First,
the daiku, or Great nine, which refers to Beethoven's ninth
symphony. This is performed in many places at Christmas time
( also New Year), sometimes with huge masses of choruses for the most
famous part, with what Americans sing as a hymn- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore
Thee.
The second custom, is the Christmas cake. Christmas in Japan just
wouldn't be the same without it. It's a blessing to the Japanese bakery
industries, that's for sure, because this is not a home project. Japanese
are shocked when told that America knows of no Christmas cake and that it is a
Japanese custom.
Food
Japanese families eat turkey mainly on Christmas Day, but some eat it
on Christmas Eve depending on their custom.
Christmas Tree
There are no live Christmas trees in Japan, only artificial trees. Not
that many houses have their own tree yet, but are starting to, appear more
often at Christmas time. The trees are decorated with small toys, dolls,
paper ornaments, gold paper fans, lanterns and wind chimes. The most
popular ornament us the 'origami swan.' The Christmas tree is placed in hospitals
to lift the spirit of the sick.
Decorations
Mistletoe and evergreen are hung from the ceilings. Tinsels and lights
are hung in the dance halls, cafes and pinball parlours (where 'modern-
minded' Japanese go to celebrate). An amulet for good luck is placed on
the front door. 1000% of lights at shops have increased with aprox. 7
years. Japanese children exchange thousands of 'birds of peace' in the
past, of the pledge that war must not occur again.
Gifts
For a few weeks before Christmas, shops set up displays of appropriate
gifts for men, women and children (especially children). On Christmas
day, families sit around the tree to exchange their gifts, whether it be
at their house, relatives or friends. For some families who have Christmas
trees, they'd gather the presents under the tree as we do in
Australia.
Santa
Santa Kurohsu, as people call Santa in Japan is a popular character at
Christmas time. I Japan Santa does not yet appear in person, like in
shopping centres. He is only pictured as advertising foil. Santa is
pictured as a kind old man, carring a round sack on his back. He is known
to have eyes on the back of his head, so he can watch the children all
year round.
Church
Most churches will have their own special Christmas worship service on
the nearest Sunday before the 25th of December and perhaps on
Christmas Eve.
Nativity
The story of Jesus born in a manger is fascinating to the little
girls of Japan, for they love anything having to do with babies. In the
scene in the nativity, many become familiar for the first time with a
cradle, for Japanese babies have not slept traditionally in cradles.
Others may even put on plays about the birth of Jesus.
Christ/History
Christianity in Japan is pretty low with 1% believing in Christ, with a
few truly understanding the significance of the birth of Jesus. The
Christian faith was first introduced in Japan by Jesuit and later by
Franciscan missionaries in the 16th century. There were probably
about 300 000 baptised believers in Japan. Unfortunately, the promising
beginning met reverses, brought by rivalries between different groups of
missionaries, political intrigues
(by Spanish and Portuguese government). The first victims were 6
Franciscan friars and 20 of them converts, who were crucified as Nagasaki
on 5 February 1597. After a short time, other Christians were arrested,
imprisoned for life, tortured and killed. The church was totally ignored by
1630. The church began to grow again after Commodore Perry opened Japan
with America’s great white fleet. Missionaries poured into Japan to
start Christianity again in Japan in the 20th century. People
wanted to forgot about the happenings and started life again.
Carols
In some homes Christmas carols are sung gaily. One of the most poular
song is Silent Night. Children are chosen to sing carols to the patients
in hospitals. Some carols are sung in shops (some songs are sung in
English).
New Years Eve
On New Year’s Eve, the house is cleaned thoroughly from top to bottom
and decorated for the special day. Once everything is neat and tidy, the
people of the house dress in their finest clothes. The father then
marchers through the house followed by the rest of the family driving the
evil spirits out. The father throws dried beans into every corner bidding
evil spirits withdraw and good luck enter. The family then goes to the ‘Shinto
Shrine’ to get God’s attention and seeks good fortunes.
Even though some of the facts about Christmas in Japan are familiar to
those in Australia, there are some quite different. Christmas began in
Japan at the beginning of the 20th century by the Christmas
missionaries and is sure to keep on going, for every year there are many
more new Christians joining the celebration.
by Madeline and Hayley
Click
here to go back
|
