Christmas? What's that?

Original Posting Date: Wednesday December 25th 2007


Today we cover the question: How is Christmas celebrated in Japan, is it being celebrated at all, respectively?
It will serve as good impression when I tell you that today I was at the Uni for the purpose of attending a class. Yes, that's right no holidays, since the 24th, 25th and 26th are normal working days here. Concerning Uni: Although there isn't regular instruction anymore, this week extra classes are being held (e.g. if too many classes are cancelled during the semester), since officially Uni doesn't close until the 28th. Christmas has virtually no relevance here (with only 2-3% Christians not astonishing), and nearly everything that's used is imported from the US(carols, decoration etc.). The 24th and 25th are days rather for young/just-in-love couples at which they undertake something together, for they rest these are more or less normal working-days.

But:
New Year is in exchange enormous. The turn of the year is one of the most important (maybe THE most important) celebration of the whole year, on which one is together with his family, presents are given (first and foremost to the children), as well as good food (traditional dishes) and sweets are served. There are also many special celebrations held in the temples etc. in short, New Year is to the Japanese what Christmas is to us. Side Note: 2008 is the year of the Mouse because of which everything is ornamented accordingly and the traditional New Years cards, which are far more common then Christmas cards at home, share mouse-motifs. The cards are delivered precisely at January 1st, the postmen are therefore part of the few people working.


Supplement to last entry
Onsen:

Onsen (温泉=warm springs) are originally thermal springs and traditionally the water is contained in natural pools (stone) outdoors, at which the areas for men and women are separated by a wooden wall in the middle, since one bathes naked. There are still many traditional pools in Japan, however those are in comparison often relatively expensive and situated in a little bit remote areas. Most (like in Arima) are inside buildings, offer a hot and sometimes a cold pool and a sauna. The remaining tradition stays intact: Bathing naked, men and women separated correspondingly and the most important thing: Before one is going into the pool one must first clean oneself thoroughly at extra washing places, including shampoo and shower gel, in order that the water stays clean. Then there are also Spas, which are onsen at which the water comes not from a natural hot spring and isn't rich in minerals, however they often have additional basins and other extras respectively, in principle they are little spas but without "action"-gimmicks and "wellness"-nonsense respectively (ed. in German the word "wellness" has derived from its original meaning and is used as marketing buzz-word for things/services that might (or often might not) help your wellbeing but are many times just really expensive). Concerning price, one forks out 500 to 900 yen for the natural indoor onsen (this was in Arima which is said to be more expensive than normal, though) and around 300 yen for a visit to a Spa respectively. Equalling to 3 - 5.50 Euro and 1.80 Euro respectively (ed. State of winter 2007), however for that money one can use everything (even the sauna) and can stay as long as one wants or until the onsen closes. Costs "a little bit" less than a Spa at home, right?



Interesting (and funny) facts/opinions about Japan:

As mentioned earlier most divorces in Japan happen, statistically, after the husband has retired. As several Japanese explained to me these are the incitements for this: The husband works for decades at his company and many times with advancing age more responsibility and decision power is confered to him. The wife is often "only" a housewife/hausfrau whereas many women by all means satisfied with it, since through this they can escape the hard, to my subjective impression in Japan sometimes even inhuman, working world. Though at home they are the boss. The housewife does not only raise the children, cooks the dishes and takes care of the rest of the household but also decides what is done and in which manner. The husband nearly never interferes but leaves nearly everything to the discretion of his wife, on the contrary most of the time he is glad if he does not have to do much when he comes home from a long working day. As such the wife reigns almost supreme over the household. Most of you will already be perceiving where I am getting with this entry.
Many husbands, who then retire, cannot really cope with the new situation and start or try to take up more in the household, some, who now lack occupation, want to have something to work at again, while some do not want to accept the loss of responsibility and even power and start to give their wives "advice" and of course know how things could be done in a better way. The wives for their part, after decades are not used to sharing their work, which often follows a structured plan, and they do not let themselves being bossed around respectively. For these circumstances and since there are no any children, who need to be looked after, in the house anymore, sadly insurmountable discrepancies can occur and eventually it may result in a divorce.