So it’s been a long LONG time since I last updated this blog…uh…sorry about that.
I’m pretty sure that I start ALL of my entries with that.
Anyways, today is Christmas!! Yay!!! Too bad it doesn’t feel like it AT ALL.
Christmas in Japan is one of the most awkward things I have seen EVER. To the Japanese, Christmas is a time to eat cake, fried chicken, give toys to kids, and go on dates. I really don’t see why they have it at all. Christmas REALLY IS more than just presents and jolly fat guys. It is jammed pack with history and tradition. So, here are a few things about Japan and Christmas
-Presents are from Santa to Kids only
-Unless you have a Christmas party, in which case it’s a good time to break out the Bingo and Bingo for first picks of 500yen presents (5$ about)
-Nearly everyone eats chicken on Christmas Eve, but not just any chicken, fried chicken and preferably from KFC. (The best explanation I got for this one is Mr. Sanders looks like Santa)
-Delivery Pizzas are also a good dinner option because the delivery guy dresses up as Santa
-There are no stockings
-Presents are placed at the head of the child’s bed
-There is typically only one present
-Parents and kids seem to be unaware of any coal, naughty and nice list, or anything else threatening like that
-They have special Christmas cakes.
-They had a music concert special on TV instead of the classic holiday movies and Yule log
-young people go on dates because it’s romantic
-It’s basically our New Years
Things they are really missing out on:
-Threatening children with Santa not coming
-eggnog
-receiving presents
-family
-movies
-holiday lights
-snow
-making reindeer food (oatmeal and glitter)
-paper snowflakes
-gingerbread everything
-a real dinner
-EVERYTHING
So, this is what I did for Christmas:
-Went bowling (yeah…I average around a 35)
-went to an okonomiyaki restaurant (okonomiyaki complete with cross made of mayo for my daily bread)
-came home to a party of kindergartners and their moms trying to organize…anything.
-at leftover party food and a Christmas cake
-made cookies (host parent’s present)
-stayed up till 3 making said cookies and helping Santa
-woke up at 12 the next day
-got a sweater and chocolate from Santa and sushi for lunch
-went to “go see” snow on top of one of the mountains but there was none
-went home and opened the presents from my (American) parents sent
-played chutes and ladders
That about covers it.
Overall I’m looking forward to New Years because it is the main event in Japan…and Christmas is not.
Also, I got my “going home” packet today. I really only have a month left…
(pictures are the creepy Santa at the "American Store" which sold cowboy boots and overpriced American Stuff--very entertaining, what was left of the Christmas Cake on Natchan, the Christmas party, amusing mirrors i found at the 100yen store, and the boxes i planned on shipping but thankfully found smaller ones)
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