A Look Into Japan's Unique December
This article was contributed by Hanna Vasquez
In the United States, the holiday season is busy, whether that be because of Christmas, Hanukkah, or other holidays taking place. New Year's traditions are also common, though simple: stay up until midnight with family, turn on the TV to watch your time zone’s countdown, then head to sleep. Like the United States, Japan has various holidays to celebrate in December, with the month even being named Shiwasu (師走) as many have to “run around,” attending celebrations.
Because Japan is not a Christian country, Christmas is not celebrated as a religious holiday. Because of this, people still go to work on Christmas Day. However, Christmas Eve is a big day for couples: couples go out to eat dinner, exchange gifts and stay up together. Friends also do similar things, meeting up to eat and celebrating when they can.
Funnily enough, KFC is one of the most popular things to eat on Christmas day in Japan. One may ask why Kentucky Fried Chicken is such a popular meal on this day, with millions ordering a bucket of fried chicken. This is because, in 1974, KFC launched a campaign advertising KFC as a Christmas must-order dish. This prompted sales to shoot through the roof, making KFC a Christmas food even to this day. This dinner is often followed by a strawberry shortcake, matching Japan’s white and red flag.
Compared to Christmas, New Years is a much more family-oriented celebration. Food is a central part of New Year’s traditions, some including toshikoshi soba (for a long, healthy life), kagami mochi (decoration), and osechi ryori (each dish having a special meaning).
Various family activities are also part of the New Year’s tradition. Some include watching TV programs, an especially popular one being the kohaku uta gassen. This music competition is aired on New Year’s eve every year, featuring dozens of male and female music artists singing the year’s most popular songs. Other family-oriented activities include otoshidama, where adult relatives give children money, which is dependent on their age, in envelopes called pochibukuro, similar to that of red envelopes in other Asian cultures.
Finally, families often visit Buddhist temples or shrines to wish for a successful new year. Even if a family is nonreligious, this practice is widespread, showing how various customs and traditions are celebrated alongside more modern culture.