Instead, Halloween is seen primarily as an opportunity to wear costumes.
Christmas (December 24-25): In America, Christmas is considered a family reunion and bonding holiday, but in Asia it has become a romantic gift-exchanging day for couples. It has also become a Japanese tradition to eat K.F.C fried chicken (due to a Japanese marketing strategy in the 1970s inspired by the American turkey dinner) and cake to celebrate.
Japanese rituals, holidays, and festivals
- Everyday rituals and etiquette
- Meal time: Before eating your meal (especially if someone else cooked it for you), you wait for everyone to be seated, place your palms together (or neatly on your lap) and say "itadakimasu!" This means "Thank you for the meal!" and is similar to the concept of "saying grace". Additionally, after you have finished your meal you should say "gochisousamadeshita!" directly to the person who prepared the meal or to the chef or server when paying the meal bill.
- Hygiene:
- When entering your apartment or someone’s home, remove your shoes at the genkan (entryway) and place the shoes together with toes pointed at the door. Shoes touch the ground and pick up dirt or trash, so you must not wear them carelessly and make the house dirty. Traditionally Japanese people did not use chairs, instead they usually sat on floor cushions and ate meals on top of a low table.
- When you return home, immediately wash your hand with soap and gargle mouth with water.
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