The Holiday Season

"It's the most wonderful time of the year" so the song says.


I personally love Christmas, but I am no fool. I know my history, I know the Bible. I know Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25th. They still have those census records ( the Romans were meticulus about those things) and yeah it was more like June right?

But hey, I am not complaining, Spring has enough to be happy about. Pretty flowers, warm weather, etc.

It is poor cold, dreary winter that needs the pick me up. And red and green are just so festive. Of course in Japan on the evening of December 25th ALL the Christmas decorations come down ( that means all the red and green go) all the wreaths, trees, angels, santas etc and they are all replaced by New Years decorations.

New years is about as "wafu" as you can get. There are giant ropes of straw, red and white banners, paper this and that, oranges, bamboo out the wazoo. For New Years it is red, white, green and gold. Oddly enough the same colours we often see at Christmas, but it is no way makes you think " Christmas"

No this is Japan culture to the max.

A coworker of mine said told me she didn't "get Christmas" since she is Japanese. Too bad I say because unlike in America where New Years is about partying and dancing and revelry. In Japan it is all about obligation. You have to go to your hometown ( you can NOT go, but I imagine the guilt pretty much drives you there) You have to make certain foods ( or you can spend a lot of money buying them), you have to go visit your local shrine and pray for a good year, and you have to eat the mochi ( that has to be the best part) and if you are a kid then you get money, if you happen to have a kid, grandkid, niece or nephew..... be prepared to cough up the cash.

I realize there is more to it that this, but seriously folks... it isn't all that fun.


So this year as you celebrate in your own way, remember to have a Happy New Year



oh yeah and resolutions are for chumps