December 15, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
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t wasn’t until the 20th century that Japan began to adopt Western commercial holiday activities. The annual holiday sales, started by major Japanese department stores in the 1930s, coincided with the end-of-year bonuses. Around this time Japan also started exporting lots of holiday decorations and toys for the Western market. Today, holiday décor like reindeer, hanging lights and Santa Claus pop up right after the paper pumpkins and plastic ghosts come down. Holiday illuminations, or large light displays, are a mainstay at local resorts. In Japan, the festivities are usually on Christmas Eve. December 24 is considered a romantic holiday for couples, similar to Valentine’s Day. It is a time when the unmarried may express their
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intentions, give flowers and other small gifts—or bemoan the fact they don’t have a date. Fancy restaurants and romantic getaway hotels are often booked up at this time of year. Christmas cakes, instead of fruit cake and pumpkin pie, are a favorite in Japan. Bakeries feature confections like round cakes topped with a Santa figure, and sweets in the shape of yule logs. This tradition began during the days of occupied Japan when people purchased buttercream sponge cakes from Western-style restaurants and bakeries. Since few Japanese homes have a full-size oven, cooking a whole turkey is not common. Fried and roasted chicken is the popular alternative and Christmas Eve brings booming business to Kentucky Fried Chicken chains.
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"December 24 is considered a romantic holiday for couples..." So to celebrate Christmas Japanese-style, forgo caroling for a romantic night out with your loved one—and don’t forget the cake and chicken, maybe from Red Barn Country Kitchen at Kinser Surfside? Read on for more of what MCCS has to offer during the holidays!
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