How the Japanese spend their Christmas

Akiko Saito
3 min readDec 17, 2018

Merry Christmas! No, PC, happy holidays!

In Japan, Christmas Eve exists for couples. Not for family, not for friends. Christmas is the biggest romantic event in Japan; If you are a teenager or older one, you must find someone who loves you. If you can’t find, you could be called “ クリぼっち(alone in Christmas).” Kids and families are thinking to spend Christmas with family are cool, but young people think to spend Christmas with family is not cool. Hanging out with friends is cool. If you Hanging out with boyfriend or girlfriend..you are the champion.

In the old days (not so old), a single woman was called “Christmas cake.” If you are before 25, it’s OK. But after 26(years old), you are out. OMG, why I am still living this damn country.

And yes, we eat KFC on Christmas. KFC on Christmas is a very cool thing. KFC is also cheap in Japan, but KFC on Christmas is a special feast for Japanese. You can’t buy KFC in store on Christmas day. Because there is a looooong line to buy a box of KFC, you must have a reservation for KFC chicken in advance!!!!!!!!!

This Christmas song is very popular for KFC on a holy night

Here is a question. What couples do? Their date is Beginning with the illumination road and going to movie or shopping. After that, they have a fancy dinner(not Japanese food, Italian is better, French is the best), with fancy gifts like Tiffany ’s accessory. Then going back to their home or a going to a fancy hotel. The room charge of a hotel on Christmas is extremely high… In Japan, “holy night” called “sei(holy)-naru-yoru(night)”. Sometimes it was changing the meaning “sei(sexual)-naru-yoru(night)”. That’s Same pronounce.

But nowadays, that old pattern is going out especially millennials. They also love illumination(because it’s free), but doesn’t go to a French restaurant. They love to spending time at the home and eating KFC or chicken from コンビニ(convenience store).

Last week, I went to a church. Because my mom visited me and she is Catholic. I am not a good Christian. Yeah, I believe God, Christ, and Maria. But I think divorce is good and welcome to use the condom.

Well, In the mass, Father complains about Japanese Christmas. He said “Japanese Christmas is huge. Illumination is everywhere. It’s beautiful, but they don’t have a Christ. There is no Christmas without Jesus. Japanese Christmas is like a rice ball without rice. You can’t make rice ball without rice.”

Yeah, we don’t put Christ with Christmas charm. There is only a star(normal type, not Christmas Star) or heart mark; there is no Christ, no Maria or three magi.

My preachy speech is over. Thank you for listening. God bless you.

[!caution!] My English skill is awful. Imagine your 5 years old daughter; I’m worse than her. Pointing or warning my grammar is always welcome.

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