Gearing up for Christmas

Living in a couple different countries it's been neat to see how each country celebrates Christmas. Germany is known for their unbelievable Christmas markets, and their Christmas festivities. No doubt they know how to celebrate Christmas, and they keep the meaning of Christmas incorporated in all the decorations and Christmas cheer. There usually is always a nativity scene within the Christmas market, and one of the most popular items to buy at the Christmas market is different items for your own nativity scene. Germany is beautiful in December. They also cherish time spent with family. Everything (and I mean everything) is closed for a couple days during Christmas to allow everyone to celebrate together. I loved how they value time to be with your family and friends.

Augsburg's Christmas Market

Augsburg's Christmas Market

Celebrating Christmas for the first time in Japan is much, much different. Since the majority of the population is not Christian, Christmas is a holiday celebrated more like Valentine's day. To them it's a romantic holiday reserved for couples. So, on Christmas most lovebirds will go out to dinner and spend some quality alone time. Where as the New Year's holiday is celebrated with family, and not partying. Most businesses will shut down during New Year's, but not for Christmas.

There are some houses that have the occasional Christmas decoration. Meaning they will have one, maybe two strands of lights in a bonsai tree. I have yet to see a baby Jesus or Nativity Scene. There are decorations up in the malls that say Merry Christmas, or Many Christmases (not sure if that is supposed to be the same as Merry Christmas or not), and Happy Christmas. I wonder what they would think if they saw this house from the States.

 

 There are also some Christmas trees, but they are about 3 foot or shorter and come in various colors. A green Christmas tree would be too boring. Our options that we saw were either pink, black, or white. So, our little Christmas tree that stands about 3 ft tall is White with no lights. Brayden will look back at his first Christmas tree and relate it to a Charlie Brown Christmas. Oh well, it's better than nothing I guess.

It has been hard to go from the Country that is known for celebrating Christmas the best to a country that doesn't celebrate Christmas really at all. I miss venturing to the Christmas market with our dog to meet up with friends and drinking gluhwein. I also miss being at home with family and friends and making Christmas cookies!

At least I am able to come home to celebrate Christmas with my family on the 29th. I feel bad that Justin will not be able to join us. That is definitely one of the cons of living and working abroad. You sacrifice being able to be with family during the Holidays. That is one thing I am definitely looking forward to in the future is being able to celebrate the Holidays as one happy family together!