Christmas and New Year in Japan

日本のお正月とクリスマス

（にほんのおしょうがつとくりすます）

Christmas

In Australia, Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year.

What do you think is the biggest holiday in Japan?

New Year

The Japanese New Year (called 'o shogatsu') is more like a traditional Western Christmas. New year is the period where families get together, have a special meal, pray and send greetings cards. New year is celebrated over five days from December 31st to January 4th and is a very busy time.

Christmas in Japan

Christmas is not widely celebrated in Japan as not many people there are Christians. However, several customs have come to Japan such as sending and receiving Christmas cards and presents.

In Japan, Christmas in known as more of a time to spread happiness rather than a religious celebration.

Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, so schools and businesses are normally open on December 25th.

Japanese Christmas Cake is a sponge cake decorated with trees, flowers and a figure of Santa Clause. The traditional Japanese christmas food is christmas cake, but it's not a rich fruit cake, but is usually a sponge cake decorated with strawberries and whipped cream.

Christmas Cake

Fried chicken is often eaten on Christmas day. It is the busiest time of year for restaurants such as KFC and people can place orders at their local fast food restaurant in advance!

Christmas Dinner

Christmas DecorationsThere are lots of Christmas decorations in Japan and particularly Christmas lights.

• It is during this time that family is gathered in the way expected during Christmas in the west.

• In Japan they celebrate New Years from the 31st of Dec to the 3rd of Jan.

• People eat osechi-ryouri which is a special New Years group of dishes.

New Year

It is traditional to decorate with a kadomatsu, a pine for the gate-way.

New Year Decorations

On New Years Eve the local Buddhist temple will ring their bell 108 times. Each bell rings represent a defilement people have in their minds.

New Year Traditions

A big New Years tradition in Japan is giving out nengajyou or New Years cards. A New Years custom is giving out money to children, known as otoshidama. They are presented in envelopes called pochibukuro.

New Year’s Cards

Another tradition of New Years is the making of mochi a rice dumpling.

Mochi Making

Some traditional New Years games include....

Games

hanestuki takoage

Some traditional New Years games include...

Games

koma sugoroku

Some traditional New Years games include...

Games

fukuwarai karuta