Meri Kurisumasu

Meri Kurisumasu!  I sneaked in a Japanese Christmas greeting.  It's what they say in Japan to wish revelers a Merry Christmas. Wait!  I think you might have said that exclamation. Yep! I am writing about Christmas in the most unlikely venue for it, Japan. Surprisingly, Christmas has become fairly big in Japan, that despite the fact that there are very few Christians living there. But you know the Japanese are an open and curious lot. They may have embraced the lay aspect of Christmas more than any other Asian nation.

Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, so schools and businesses are normally open on December 25th. The big corporations do the main decorating, lighting their buildings and the trees. Because of a butter shortage last week, Japanese home bakers and retail sellers are in a fritter. No butter means no Christmas sweets. Elaborate and artful "Christmas cakes" are big in the land that loves fancy sweets. Christmas sweets have become a staple of Japan's year-end holidays.

The most adored of them is a variation of the French sponge cake covered with vanilla icing, whipped cream and strawberries. They are sold everywhere from neighborhood convenience stores to the fanciest Japanese bakeries stores. That's why the Japanese government this week purchased a huge shipment of imported butter.

Anyway, it's not just a matter of "let them eat cake" at Christmas in Japan.  Parties are often held for children, with games, dancing and that  guy in the red outfit (No, not me. I mean Santa.) they call santa-san.  In Japan, Christmas in known as more of a time to spread happiness rather than a religious celebration. Christmas eve is often celebrated more than Christmas Day.

Christmas eve is thought of as a romantic day, in which couples spend together and exchange presents, sort of like Valentine's Day. Young couples like to go for walks to look at the Christmas lights and have a romantic meal in a restaurant. And on Christmas day fried chicken is the favorite meal. It is the busiest time of year for KFC in Japan because....well....we all know Colonel Sanders is the real Santa Claus.

Just one more thing. 'O shogatsu' to you. (That's the Happy New Year greeting in Japan)