How do you cerebrate Christmas in Japan?

Some of my students asked me
“How do you cerebrate Christmas in Japan?”
Well, good question.

I would say, for most of Japanese people,
Christmas is a foreign festival, so it’s more like a commercial holidays.

*About religion in Japan, you can read
What is Japanese people’s religion?
https://akarijapanese.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/what-is-japanese-peoples-religion

There’s some Christian in Japan.
Also, there’s many Christian kindergartens,
schools, universities.
I myself went to christian University and I’ve worked YMCA for a while, so
I know the basic ideas of Christianity.
So most of the people in Japan knows it’s a birth day of Jesus Christ, but
for most of them, it’s not religious holiday, but just foreign festival.

Especially 1980’s and 90’s, when Japan’s economy was good,
Many companies try to advertise Christmas as
“Day to spend time with your someone special” and then,
somewhat they interpret Christmas as day for lovers.

Then jewelry shop tried to sell jewelry,
Cake shop tied to sell “Christmas cake”
KFC tried to sell “Christmas Chicken”

Luckily, I could spend warm authentic Christmas holidays in Prince Edward, Canada.
I got handmade cookies, scarf, and mittens from my coworkers, went to Church for Christmas Eve Mass,
and was invited my friends family gathering.
I prefer these warm authentic Christmas rather than commercial one.

Although, we do have warm authentic family gathering holidays in Japan, too.
It’s new years holiday.
I’ll write about it next time.

(the photo is Christmas tree at a super market in Japan)