Christmas trees and decorations

[Roberta]

Hi YCCC students!

Recently, Japanese people purchase and use more and more Christmas decorations, but there are few Christians here. In fact, Christmas is a date night, and families eat Christmas Cake--which is kind of like a birthday cake, except it has Christmas-style decorations. And New Year's is a Big family holiday.

Are you surprised that there are Christmas decorations these days in Japan? Japanese like to borrow and adapt things, but truly, many Christmas decorations are also not exactly Christian, but also borrowed and adapted.

Did you know there have been controversies in the past about the non-Christian, pagan roots to the Christmas tree?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm

Do you know the history of the Christian Christmas tree?

http://www.christmasarchives.com/trees.html

Did you know there are environmental concerns about Christmas trees?
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/greening-your-christmas-tree.html

Take a look! Tell us your thoughts! Do you have any questions about Japanese Christmas or New Year's? Do you have any special things you do to decorate for or celebrate the holidays?

[tako11]

Local people illuminate downtown with bright Christmas lights, make some Christmas trees on the road and etc..
Some families who have kids will decorate with some Christmas goods in their house. It's common thing in Japan.
Many children believe that Santa Claus exists;so Adults mustn't shatter children's dream. There is a story going around that Children will go to bed and put their sock up; then,Santa Claus will come and put some presents into the sock beside the children's pillow when Children are sleeping at night. Children will be happy when they see some present. I think it is good for children. I know Children will notice Santa Claus is not exist someday, but I will do those things if I will be a papa.

[junchiro]

Japanese have accepted foreign culture. Many Japanese do not know how to celebrate Christmas.
Christmas and also Saint Valentine's day are utilized by commerce. For example Saint Valentine's day
women give chocolate to men; after Saint Valentine's day Japan has a day which involves men giving chocolate
in return. There is a surprising thing that Japan has duty chocolate. Japanese women give duty chocolate to people
who she is thanking.

[Roberta]

Check it out! From the Christmas Archives site, I learned that artificial trees have a long history, as does environmental concern for forests. And I learned that the first of today's twisty-wire fake trees were made possible by.... Toilet Brush technology! ; ) Oh, and check out how global (and Japanese!) Christmas decorations already were in 1918. From the site:

"After Queen Victoria died.... the artificial tree, particularly the Goose Feather Tree, became popular. These were originally invented in the 1880's in Germany, to combat some of the damage being done to Fir trees in the name of Christmas."

"In America, the Addis Brush Company created the first brush trees, using the same machinery which made their toilet brushes! These had an advantage over the feather tree in that they would take heavier decorations."

"After 1918, because of licensing and export problems, Germany was not able to export its decorations easily. The market was quickly taken up by Japan and America, especially in Christmas Tree lights."

[clahar]

Wow, toilet brush technology brought us the twisty-wire fake Xmas tree! Ok - that is one rare piece of trivia! I can't wait to see this appear on Jeopardy.

[Becky A Moore]

Well that is very intresting! My family always decorates the tree together, we listen to xmas music, and drink egg nog and hot chocolate! Inint the New Year a big celabration, and dont you have cirtain dates for it???