General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: You know for those who celebrate Christmas, [View all]yuiyoshida
(41,831 posts)Most Japanese are considered Shinto Buddhist. Maybe less than 1% of the population are actually Christians. But yet, "Kurisumasu" is celebrated in Japan anyway. That is because there, it is a Romantic holiday, like Valentines Day is here. Gifts are given, couples go out to dinner (Yes KFC, is pushed but hey,they got their claws embedded in the culture there now) and there are the traditional Christmas Cakes;
There are tons of Xmas trees, lights and all the trimmings, but its a holiday that does not involve people taking time off from work.. The biggest Holiday in Japan is New Years! Xmas in Japan is so very different from the United States. Its like a pretty wrapped up christmas gift with nothing inside, like those fake boxes you see under a tree, in a store window.
People there enjoy the holiday, if they have it off. Most people work that day, as any normal day. There is lots of music, celebrations, Christmas Trees and gift giving, especially to small children. But very few look at it as a religious holiday. Its never treated as a religious holiday.
Bill O'Reilly would just hate it!