There are some differences on how to spend Christmas in Japan and in Germany.
Japanese Christmas season in a town is showy compared to Germany.
I would say that the word for Japanese Christmas is “Party”.
German Christmas atmosphere is beautiful.
Before Christmas in Germany, there are a lot of Christmas markets.
Drinking hot wine at Christmas market is my favourite thing to do at Christmas season in Germany.
Christmas in Japan
Christmas which is December 24th and 25th is not a public holiday in Japan.
I would say that Christmas is more for a couple than family.
In the past, I had normally spent Christmas with a partner or friends after I was grown up.
When I was a child, I spent Christmas with my family though.
I remember that my mother prepared a cake and tasty meal for us, children e.g. Japanese curry, Tempura, Ebi fry, hamburg steak etc.
In my case, when I woke up in the morning on 25th December, Christmas present was next to me on the bed.
I guess the tree I decorated was not real Christmas tree.
It was probably a different kind of tree but I enjoyed decorating the tree before Christmas.
In Japan, many people eat Kentucky Fried Chicken at Christmas.
Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan prepares the special meal for Christmas for some reason.
Many Japanese people in Japan book for it.
Almost every shop, amusement park and restaurant is open at Christmas.
There are a lot of illumination events in Japan around Christmas.
People in Japan enjoy the Christmas atmosphere.
Christmas in Germany
Christmas Eve 24th is a holiday from the afternoon and it is a public holiday on 25th and 26th in Germany.
In Germany, family members gather at Christmas.
In my boyfriend and my case, we visit his grandmother on 24th December and we spend time together and have dinner at her place.
On 25th and 26th, My boyfriend and I spend time with his parents.
That is traditional for him.
As far as I remember, we eat duck, fish, steak and so on.
My boyfriend’s grandmother and mother bake a few kinds of cakes and I really like eating them.
Every family member gets a Christmas present.
On 24th of December, we open a Christmas present.
Christmas present are under the Christmas tree.
In November, my boyfriend’s family members talk about Christmas present with each other and prepare them.
My boyfriend gets a lot of money from his grandmother at Christmas.
Christmas trees are sold at gardens or supermarkets.
I saw a lot of Christmas trees were lying on the street after Christmas holiday.
Almost every shop, amusement park and restaurant is closed at Christmas.
Actually, It is so quiet outside at Christmas time in Germany.
German Christmas is beautiful.
I mean the concept that family gathering is beautiful.
I feel that the concept of German Christmas is similar to the new year holidays in Japan.
Especially, getting money from grandmother remains me Japanese new year holidays.
Next time, I will write about how to spend the end of the year and new year in Japan and in Germany.