Are you looking forward next Christmas day? Are you planning to have a family party again? Or going to abroad to celebrate Christmas differently?
Whatever happens, Christmas is the biggest event in Britain.
But, what is Christmas? It is NOT a Jesus's real birthday, is it?
If you go to Japan in December, you'll surprised to see all the Christmas decoration on a main street, though, it's not a public celebration in Japan, everything is driven by commercial purpose.
Some Japanese are Christians, but majority of us are not.
I have been asked by many British that,
" Do you celebrate Christmas in Japan? "
I answered " Yes ".
Despite many of British knew we Japanese were not Christians, nobody asked me so far, why we celebrate it, because we are not Christians. It seems to me British believed that Christmas is a global event, whatever their belief is.
When I was small, Christmas was a day which roast chicken and sponge cake were on a table, but no present or Christmas tree in a house.
For many young Japanese couples, Christmas and Valentine's day are most romantic event of the year. They make hustle to reserve best table in a famous restaurant, then after dinner they make another hustle in their private place.
The biggest celebration in Japan is a new year's day.
We stopped using Lunar carender long time ago, so Japan's new year's day is always 1st of January.
Traditionally, adults give children a good sum of cash, but children don't give adults anything.
When I had my first Christmas in Britain, I stayed with my husband's family, I was surprised that not only adults giving children presents, but children also giving presents to adults.
I didn't know it at all!
The first Christmas went by surprise, then second one came.
All of a sudden, I realized how hard to find a suitable present to adult, such as my parents in law. Because they've got everything! What should I buy to them?
Have you ever had a unwanted present? If you have, what did you say to that person who gave you a present?
Were you honest? or told a white lie?
What did you do with that present? Gave it to someone? putting it to aside and fogotten? or just binned it?
Some years ago, before Christmas day, we put all the presents under the tree. Accidentally one sticky label stuck to another present, which went to wrong person. That was a fridge magnet kit I bought for my niece.
What was a reaction of that adult when she opened that ?
I don't want to be rude, but I can't believe any adult would be so pleased by having fridge magnet kit as a Christmas present! ( she was over 50's ) At least I wouldn't. Was she honest? Maybe, I didn't know.
Ever since that episode, buying Christmas presents became a burden to me, and each year it's getting heavier and heavier, so, I declared that no more present to adult at all!
And no more presents to me either!
I gave children gift voucher, they are old enough to choose what they want, but nothing to adult.
You may think I'm extreme, but I couldn't stand telling a lie when I had unwanted present, also I didn't want to see people telling a white lie to me.
That was two years ago.
After that, I felt like unloaded an earth from my shoulder.
Does anyone think it's a duty to give something on Christmas, rather than you really want to give present to your family? Or maybe it's just a tradition?
If Christmas is a day to give something to someone, why don't you give your tender loving care to your darling EVERY DAY?
Nobody knows Jesus's real birthday, so it could be ANYDAY of the year.
Money can't buy LOVE, but it cost nothing to give your LOVE.
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