The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
Xmas workday, 15 December 2008
A SIP OF MATCHA WITH SARAH MORI
Many Japanese celebrate Christmas though Dec 25 is not a national holiday.
Merii Kurisumasu from Japan! Since Japan became more westernised, many Japanese have adopted western traditions like Valentine’s Day (albeit celebrated differently), Halloween and Christmas.
From early November, excitement is in the air with premises and streets illuminated and decked with Christmas decorations.
More Japanese are enthusiastically dressing their houses and trees with Christmas ornaments and sparkling lights. Many put up artificial Christmas trees and hold parties in their homes. Frankly, I can’t tell if they are Christian homes or not.
A Japanese house elaborately decked with Christmas decorations
Christianity was said to have taken root in Japan in the 16th century with the arrival of Christian missionaries. However, it was banned during the Edo Period until after the Meiji Restoration when freedom of religion was promulgated.
Despite the propagation of Christianity in Japan, Dec 25 is NOT a national holiday! Japanese Christians make up about 1% of Japan’s population. The non-Christians regard it as a festivity to enliven the atmosphere. Christmas is more about gift-giving and romance – a commercial event with very little or no religious meaning attached.
Florists enjoy a boost in sales of poinsettias, cyclamens, evergreens and wreaths. Bakeries, department stores and supermarkets put up advertisements for orders of Christmas cakes. The Christmas cake is usually a sponge cake with strawberries, whipped cream and Christmas decorations gracing the top.
Many parents dote on their children on Christmas. My Japanese non-Christian friend used to leave presents (mostly toys) near her children’s pillows when her children were small, but she didn’t receive any presents in return. The concept is that Santa Clause brings presents to children. Many associate Christmas with Santa Claus rather than the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
The emphasis of Christmas revolves around Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day itself. It has a romantic appeal like the western-styled Valentine’s Day, especially for young couples. They exchange gifts, dine at a fancy restaurant or spend a romantic evening together somewhere.
Churches have their own ways and days of celebrating Christmas. Christmas services and masses are put up on websites and in newspapers. Since December 25 is not a public holiday, my church celebrates it on the Sunday closest to that day. Thus, Christmas Day celebration comes before our candle light service on Dec 24.
A nativity play put up by Japanese children.
Our church started carolling in the vicinity a few days ago. When the night is bitterly cold, our guitarists have a hard time strumming. We sing along in pairs in the streets and in front of blocks of apartments – one person holding the song sheet and the other a flashlight. Our Santa distributes bags of candies to the neighbourhood children.
We bring cheer with our carols and present gifts to nursing homes nearby. What touches us most is seeing some old folks clapping or joining in the singing, and their faces smiling when they shake hands with our kids.
Almost every year, our children put up plays before Christmas day. We distribute flyers and put up posters to invite people to our church to watch the play, and attend the Christmas service and party.
Over the years, our children have performed Charles Dickens’ story, A Christmas Carol, and Nativity plays to portray the true meaning of Christmas. Last year our kids performed sign language dances in our church and the nursing home.
At the morning Christmas service, my American pastor preaches in Japanese while his Japanese wife sits among the foreigners to interpret in English. Each family member of our church brings two dishes for a potluck lunch party which is held after the service. We have a busy time arranging the food on the table. Really, it looks like a banquet. Roast chicken is more common, and it’s hard to find turkey here. So when my pastor serves roast stuffed turkey, it’s a treat!
The highlight for the children is the piñata. Our children make it in different shapes each year and stuff it with goodies. We cheer and holler at the blindfolded stick-wielding kid: “Right, left, straight, now hit!” When the piñata is too hard to break, the adults (usually guests) lend a helping hand.
While the kids are having an enjoyable time, my pastor is exercising his muscles, pulling the rope (tied to pulley on the ceiling) attached to the heavy piñata. You’ll see a succession of kendo-styled actions, and my pastor sometimes has to dodge when he becomes the target instead! The goodies are then collected in a bag to be distributed by Santa Claus later. We end the party by singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas and popping crackers.
Come Christmas morning, we open our presents, but the flurry of the celebration settles down for us and my husband goes to work as usual.
Merii Kurisumasu! May love, peace, and joy be upon all!
•Sarah Mori is a Malaysian married to a Japanese and has been living in Japan since 1992. She hopes that more Japanese would know the true meaning of Christmas and hopes that Dec 25 would be officially declared a holiday in Japan.
© 1995-2008 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
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