Wednesday, December 15

Japan Holiday Traditions

Howdy! 

May your day be filled with lots of learning!!

Jinger and Joey love to learn about other countries Christmas/Holiday traditions!! It is good to know how others celebrate the holiday season too!! Today, Jinger is going to tell you about the holiday season in Japan.

Jinger wants to know if you have ever heard that in Japan the people eat Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) instead of turkey for Christmas dinner? Yep, that is correct, they go to KFC and get a big dinner of chicken and other sides. Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan. Although some of the people in Japan still celebrate on December 24th and 25th. KFC’s busiest day of the year in Japan is December 24th. KFC gets so busy in Japan around the holiday season that people sometimes preorder their holiday meal so they do not have to wait in a long line.

 


What does your holiday meal consist of?


 

Facts about the holiday season in Japan:

1. The KFC chicken dinner tradition started in 1974 in Japan. The first Kentucky Fried Chicken appeared in Japan in 1970. It took four years for the tradition to start. Their slogan was Kentucky for Christmas!

2. Takeshi Okawara was the manager of the first KFC in Japan in 1970. Takeshi Okawara promoted party barrels of chicken instead of turkey for the Christmas/Holiday season.

3. The Japanese have winter illuminations and lights during the winter season. They decorate beautiful Christmas trees, train stations, parks, and monuments with lights and illuminations. They have festive Christmas markets where you can shop, buy good food, and decorations. Some of the Christmas markets even have nightly performances and light illuminations.  

4. About 1% of the people in Japan are Christian and celebrate the Christmas season. Many Japanese children love Christmas and Santa just like the children do in other parts of the world.

5. Strawberry shortcake is a very popular cake in Japan around the Christmas/Holiday season. Kurisumasu keki is a Christmas cake in Japan. It is a light sponge cake that is frosted and decorated with strawberries.

6. Christmas eve in Japan is more for couples. Couples in Japan get together and give each other gifts on Christmas eve. Gifts are exchanged more with family and friends during the New Year celebration.


What is your favorite part about the Christmas/Holiday season?

 


Books about Japan:

1. Japanese Traditions: by Setsu Broderick

2. Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

3. Introduction to Japanese Culture edited by Daniel Sosnoski

4. All About Japan: by Williamarie Moore

Parents/Caretakers please be sure books are child friendly before reading them to your child/children.

 

I have written 6 children’s books. My 14 now 16-year-old daughter illustrated all of them. All my books are available on Amazon.


1. JOEY SAVES THE DAY! AT DAYCARE

2. JOEY SAVES THE DAY! AT MEMAW’S

3. JOEY SAVES THE DAY! THE MISSING TEDDY BEAR 

4. JOEY SAVES THE DAY! LOST AT THE ZOO 

5. Santa' Rainbow Reindeer

6. Where, Oh, Where, Could My Dinosaur Be?

 

Thank you for reading my post!

 

Check out my printable coloring pages and worksheets! Thanksgiving and Christmas coloring sheets now available!

http://www.joeysavestheday.com/p/printables.html

Join my Joey Saves The Day group on Facebook for giveaways, learning, and fun

https://www.facebook.com/groups/376033837169442

Follow me on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/mimijoey444/

Like and follow my author page

https://www.facebook.com/Mimi-Jones-114739544135886




2 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It is definitely cool! Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. I hope you enjoyed and learned something new.

      Delete

Facts about Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Who is ready to learn some quick facts about a famous poet? Each Thursday for the next fifty weeks I will be blogging about a famous poet....