Kate’s Quests

While I was in class last night, the Japanese teacher that I often work with asked me what DJ and I were going to do on Christmas. I explained that we would probably just hang out at home with the kitties. We would have to be asleep fairly early because we have catch a very early train from Tokyo to Kyoto. She seemed shocked by my answer and her eyes got really big and she asked me, “aren’t you going to any parties?!” I said no and that we would just hang out at home. So she asked, “well…what about Christmas eve? Don’t you have any parties to go to on Christmas eve?” I said no again and that many people just spend time with their family on Christmas. She didn’t seem particularly satisfied with that answer and seemed to feel very very sorry for me. After a few minutes she asked if we went to church. I said no and she seemed even more surprised. As if all Americans go to church on Christmas, right? I then had to decide how much to tell her, especially since we were sitting with all of the students who were busy eating cake for a birthday party in which the birthday girl was absent that day (but that’s another subject entirely). I explained that while in college I had studied many religions and felt the Tibetan Buddhism resonated most closely with how I felt. So even though I had been raised Protestant, I had decided to follow Buddhism instead. She made the surprised noise the Japanese do (a high pitched raising of her voice) and said it was “so strange!”

In Japan, you don’t change religions or follow one path instead of another. You can pick bits and pieces from any religion and follow them all. You aren’t categorized the way you are in the states with one religion or another. You can believe some of buddhism, shinto, christian or nothing at all. It really doesn’t matter. And their celebration of Christmas is purely material. I asked one of my students the other day what she did to celebrate Christmas (it’s becoming very fashionable to celebrate Christmas here). She answered that she and her friends (she’s in her mid thirties, mind you) get together in a parking lot, exchange gifts and get really drunk.

The New Year is the really big holiday here, though. Since years are traditionally viewed as completely separate, they spend days before New Years eve cleaning the house so that they can usher in the new year with a clean slate. Everything is supposed to be finished so that you can leave last years worries and troubles behind. Everything is closed and people stay home with their families or visit the shrines until everything opens back up again on the 4th.

I’m can’t say I’m all that enthused about getting smashed in a freezing parking lot on Christmas, but I do fully get behind their New Years traditions. I like the idea of entering the year with a clean slate (and a clean house). I have to admit, the sparkling house thing might be a little tough for me…but I’m working on it!

And since all work is to be finished and you’re not supposed to be worried about cooking or cleaning, you can stock up with these ready made food items. You see them on sale in the grocery stores everywhere. As long as you’re a fan of gelatinous muck and other fishy and veggie items, you’re good to go! (I’ll have to pass – I’ve got some yummy Christmas cookies that Mom and Gram sent in the mail. They could last me. Maybe. Or not.) So, in the spirit of Japanese traditions, I’ll pick and choose what to follow and what not to! You can’t make me eat what’s in those boxes for three days. It’s just not gonna happen.

Osechi Ryori