Japanese Events
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On the Christmas day, 25th December, the birthday of Jesus Christ, people cerebrate not only with their family also with their friends and boyfriends and girlfriends, giving gifts one another. Often chicken food and Christmas cakes are served.
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On the winter solstice day, when the daylight is the shortest of a year, people in Japan eat pumpkins and take a bath with yuzu citron.
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Around this time of a year, adults give a gift to the people who have taken care of them. It is an old tradition and they can convey a message of their gratitude. The gifts are sent from the beginning of December until around 25th of December. There are people who follow this custom and some who do not.
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On the New Year’s Eve, people eat Toshikoshi-Soba, wishing for their health and longevity. Towards the midnight of the day, we hear bells from a temple, which is called Joya no Kane in Japanese.
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Tori no ichi is a festival on the rooster day of the old Japanese calendar in November. People buy a Kumade which is a decorated rake for their luck.
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Shichi-Go-San is a day to celebrate the growth, when girls turn 7 and/or 3 years old, and the boys 5 years old. They wear a kimono or suits and pay a visit to a shinto shrine. They take a pictures and hold a feast with the family.
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On the harvest moon day, which varies falls between September to October, you can enjoy the full moon. Dumplings and silver grass are decorated.
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Obon is an old Japanese custom on 13th to 15th August every year. During the Obon festival, we pray for the deceased family members in a grave yard. Therefore, there are days off in some companies.
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There are summer festivals all over in Japan. There are some festivals in shinto shrine. Sometimes mikoshi is carried. There are some stalls. There are various ways to hold a festival, depending on the location.
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You can enjoy fireworks in the sky at a fireworks festival. You can also visit stalls (where you can get some food or toys) near by the venue.