Christmas and New Year's in Japan:

Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan because it's a Christian holiday and the religions practiced in Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism. We posted about the difficulties of being a Christian at this link- Click Here -there is more information about Buddhism and Shintoism at the blog link also. 

Some people have asked what we do or how we spent our Christmas. In the U.S. whether you are a Christian or not you usually celebrate/observe Christmas with family or friends and most establishments are closed or have shorten hours. In Japan, it's just another day. The current emperor's birthday is December 23, and is celebrated as a holiday. 

December 23 was on a Sunday and if a holiday falls on a Sunday it is observed on the following Monday, which was actually Christmas Eve. So many people had Christmas Eve off. At our church we celebrate together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Some church members may be the only Christian in their family and it can be a lonely time for some of them. 

On Sunday, the 23, we had a big church service at our main location and had a covered dish luncheon. I love these meals because we get to try lots of yummy homemade Japanese food. 

All the shoes of those present at the December 23 church service.

There were 115 present at the service. 

Getting the tables set up for the lunch.

Fun in the kids room!!

Eating

The Japanese have a unique way of gift giving. Whether it's Christmas or not, if you receive a gift from someone it is polite to return a gift back. There are a few things to know about gift giving though. Marcia explained everything to me, which has been helpful. If you are invited to do something, it is polite to return an invite to do something or have a meal together. If I am returning a gift, I should not put it in a food container or bag that is re-usable because then food or another gift will be put into the container or bag, returned as a gift and the cycle starts again. 

Marcia said that we would probably receive some Christmas gifts from people at church. I prepared by making Peanut Butter cookies and putting them in one-time-use bags tied with red ribbons. My dad sent over Bath and Body Works Christmas scents antibacterial hand gels. They do not have scented travel size hand gels here and I asked for them for this specific occasion. When we received something, I had cookies or a hand gel ready to give :)

Peanut Butter Cookies!!

The hand gels.

On Christmas Eve, we went caroling at a local mall. 

The group

After caroling, we went to the church for a Turkey Stew supper and a 'white elephant' gift game. They play this game that you can steal a gift as many times as you want. It was a great weekend. 

After the Turkey Stew, someone brought these little cups with fruit dessert inside. 

Everyone waiting for the game to begin. 

The gifts.

Mr. Shimoda got some purple body wash :)

When someone opened a gift everyone would look very closely to see what it was. 

This man opened an apron. Someone took it from him!!

He ended up with a Christmas mug.

This green pillow was one of the most wanted gifts and it got taken and exchanged so many times I lost count. 

This little guy got our gift. It was a teddy bear/pillow and a red blanket. We were glad that a child opened our gift!!!

On Christmas day, Tony and Marcia Haug invited us over for Christmas lunch. We enjoyed spending time with them and their 3 kids, who go to college or work in the states, and Hilary, the other English teacher. We had an amazing lunch that Marcia prepared and played Rook and Scrabble. 

We had a great weekend and then enjoyed Skyping with our families in the states :)

New Year's is a big holiday in Japan. Marcia told us that many establishments, including Grocery's, used to be closed for about 3-4 days or the whole week. The grocery next to our apartment building was closed most of the week of New Year's and there was no trash pick up. 

There are many Buddhist and Shinto traditions celebrated here in Japan. One Buddhist tradition that is done on New Year's Eve is the ringing of the Bonsho Bell. (bonsho bell means temple bell) At midnight, Buddhist temples strike a large cast bell with a pole 108 times. 108 for each earthly desire that is believed to cause misery to mankind. We have a temple across the street from us and bells are rung at various times through-out the day. At midnight on December 31, we sat in our living room and heard it begin. We eventually lost count but we knew what was going on. 

Bonsho Bell

We stayed at home and celebrated our New Year's, knowing it would be our last one as just 'two' and not wanting to go out and get caught in any crowds that may be around at that time. On January 1, we began 2013 with a church service at our main location. I love when all 3 locations meet together at the main location. Each year a new verse is hung at the front of the church. 

In the upper left-hand corner is last year's verse posted at the Center location downtown, where David and I usually go and the Pre-School is located. 

The verse for 2013 is 2 Timothy 1:6 "For this reason I remind you to fan into the flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." NIV We were challenged to choose 3 people that we work with or know of in our neighborhoods or friends and to pray for them everyday in this upcoming year. To invite them to events, to reach out to them, to minister to them, and to present the Gospel to them. We do not know what 2013 holds, only God does. 

Pastor Tony left us with 3 challenges:
1-Love God more this next year
2-Give more time this next year for Jesus
3-Next year this time be ready to give a testimony of who we prayed for and what happened. 

We trust that ya'll had a great Christmas and New Year's. We look forward to what 2013 holds and we appreciate your prayers and interest for us and our ministries here in Japan. We will continue to update as often as we can about our ministries here in Shimonoseki.