Japanese Punctuality Forces Overnight Transition From the West to the East
People shake off the Christmas mood like a magic
If I can be honest with you, one of the most disappointing things about Christmas in Japan is the abrupt ending. From the beginning of November until the night of December 25th, streets and shops are decorated with towering Christmas trees and glittering ornaments.
People buy gifts and cakes pretending as if we’re all devout Christians, and I love that uplifting mood. Today, many of us are driven more by economic activities than our religious backgrounds, especially in this country. But it’s okay. Buddhism-related events are too modest and low-key. We need a few occasions to celebrate something and an excuse to splurge a little on our beloved ones.
At a department store, people were in lines to buy fancy ready-to-eat meals and cakes. My daughter loved the above huge tree with countless pink bears and golden baubles standing in front of the shop. We took some photos and left there singing Jingle bells to decorate our tree at home.
No one talks about Christmas on 26th
However, when you step out of your home in the early morning on the 26th, everything is gone. No glitzy Christmas trees and Jingle Bells anymore. Public squares are now vacant with too much space, giant Christmas trees gone, and you can’t see any traces of the festive event. You may even wonder whether it was real or just a dream of Western magic. It’s almost like ripping off the bandaid.
Soon, you’ll notice store clerks are pulling out a wagon filled with full of traditional Japanese decorations for the new year holidays, such as Shimenawa and Kadomatsu trees that you can see in the below photo.
Now, these long-established decorations are the official and final notice to us: Clean up all the Christmas decorations! Be prepared for the new year! Write new year’s cards and send them over asap to get delivered by January 1st!
My Japanese DNA kicks in
Japanese people write more cards for a new year than Christmas. The number of cards Japan Post handles has been decreasing every year, but it’s still many people’s year-ending routine after Christmas.
For the past years, I haven’t written the new year cards because I don’t like the harsh transition and all the abruptness. I keep hanging my Christmas decorations at home as long as possible, just like Talor Swift sings “we could leave the Christmas lights up ’til January” in her song, Lover.
Despite my love of Christmas, around the end of December, even I usually start feeling itchy at the last minute, thanks to my internal clock. I take down all the decorations and put them in bags and boxes. Then, I reluctantly pull out a few new year’s ornaments to celebrate its coming. Welcoming a new year with Christmas decorations isn’t our thing, after all.
Countdown in Singapore
So, when I first visited Singapore about a decade ago, I liked all the mishmash of Western and Eastern cultures. Even after January 1st, Christmas trees were still here and there, although I saw some lunar new year’s decorations too.
On Sentosa Island, people in shorts and flip-flops were posing in front of a colorful Christmas tree. Everyone looked nonchalant about its expiration date, and that inclusive atmosphere made me relaxed. It seemed the natural way of being the junction of two cultures.
Japanese people are known for their punctuality, and seasonal events are also expected to be so. Although I’m still in the Christmas mood, it’s time to clean-slate everything. Happy merry new year, all. Wishing you a punctual yet relaxed 2022.
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