Christmas traditions in Japan

In Japan, Christmas has few traditions due to the low Christian presence. However, locals believe that if you are lonely at Christmas, you will be lonely all year round. Therefore, everyone tries to find a partner. The KFC fast-food chain created the slogan “Kentucky for Christmas” in 1974, which has become extremely popular in Japan. As a result, Christmas and fried chicken have become closely linked, and after decades of campaigning, Christmas chicken is now ordered weeks in advance for the festive table.

In Japan, community plays a very important role in people’s lives, and it is customary to give gifts to those we are grateful to at the end of the year. However, this is not done at Christmas, but at the end of the year, when gifts are given mainly to teachers, bosses, and family friends. Christmas presents are usually only given to couples in love, friends and, within the family, mainly to children.