Only 1 per cent of Japanese people
believe in Christ. Even so, most Japanese people decorate their stores and homes
with evergreens during Christmas.
They enjoy giving each other gifts, and this is the part they
celebrate.
They have a Buddhist monk called Hotei-osho who acts
like Santa Claus. He brings presents to each house and leaves them for the
children. Some think he has eyes in the back of his head, so children try to
behave like he is nearby.
Among the Christian Japanese Christmas is not a day for the
family. They do not have turkey or plum pudding, rather than that the day is
spent doing nice things for others especially those who are sick in hospitals.
Christmas for those in Sunday schools is the happiest day of
the year. On Christmas Eve or Christmas night, the children put on programs that
last for hours, they sing, they recite and they put on a drama of the day Jesus
was born in Bethlehem.
Most children may not Hotei-osho so they may receive their
presents from Santa who goes around with a red-nosed reindeer.
Are you looking for a unique Christmas gift
for an animal lover. Many of our original animal photos have
been turned into great gift merchandise.
You can search our animal lover gifts
by type of item or by kind of animal.
