Christmas and New Years in Japan

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Christmas and New Years in Japan

• By Remi Bernotavicius

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Introduction

• New Years has always been the big holiday of the
  winter season in Japan.
• Christmas was introduced in Japan by the
  Europeans who came during the 16th century.
• Christmas doesnt hold any religious significance
  in Japan, since less than 2 of the population is
  Christian.

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Christmas in Japan

• The first Christmas that was recorded to have
  been celebrated in Japan was by a group of jesuit
  missionaries in 1552.
• When Christianity in Japan was banned it died
  out.
• Only in Japans recent history has Christmas been
  picking up popularity.
• Officially it is not celebrated, if it falls in a
  weekday everybody still goes to work and school.
• The holiday is celebrated more like valentines
  day, where couples give presents to each other.

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Lights in Japan
Roppongi Hills
Tokyo Tower
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Christmas at KFC

• Going to KFC for Christmas is tradition for many
  in Japan. Some say that since you can't get a
  turkey in most parts this is the closest thing.
  At KFC they get such an amount of customers on
  Christmas they don't take walk-in customers, only
  those who have ordered before hand. They will
  mostly sell for Christmas Chicken, Cornbread,
  Coleslaw, and wine, but not mashed potatoes,
  though they have cut, fried potatoes wedges.

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Christmas Cake
This is a popular thing to eat on Christmas eve.
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New Years in Japan

• It is during this time that family is gathered in
  the way expected during Christmas in the west.
• In Japan they celebrate New Years from the 31st
  of Dec to the 3rd of Jan.
• People eat ???????(osechi-ryouri), which is a
  special New Years group of dishes.

????
??????
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??

• It is traditional to decorate with a
  ??(????)(kadomatsu), a pine for the gate-way.

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New Years in Japan

• On New Years Eve the local Buddhist temple will
  ring their bell 108 times.
• Each bell rings represent a defilement people
  have in their minds.

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New Years in Japan

• A big New Years tradition in Japan is giving out
  ??????(nengajyou), or New Years cards.
• A New Years custom is giving out money to
  children, known as ?????(otoshidama). They are
  presented in envelopes called ?????

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New Years in Japan

• Another tradition of New Years is the making of
  ??(mochi), a rice dumpling.

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• Some traditional New Years games include...

????(hanestuki)
????(takoage)
??(koma)
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????(sugoroku)
?????(fukuwarai)
???(karuta)
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• ?????????????
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