Advent(ures)

Advent in Japan is shaping up to be a real winner. There are incessant synthesized Christmas classics playing in the stores and there are gaudy tinsel garlands, flashing lights and rubber boots (stockings?) decorated with animae characters and stuffed with squid (Commercialism: so what else is new Charlie Brown?). Surprisingly, people have not just forgotten the reason for the season they are not even sure what they are celebrating. But, if its good enough for the west then its good enough for Japan. Here Christmas is just another novel holiday like Halloween with its pumpkins or Easter with its rabbits. We were sent two small nativity sets which we keep in our classrooms and act out the story for our students who are quite confused that we are celebrating the coming of Jesus rather than the coming of Santa. They just figured that Christmas has something to do with red and green and cake and bells.
To the credit of the Japanese Christmas cake here is a huge improvement. The Christmas cake in Japan is just your average cake with Christmas motif decorations. To all you well informed readers this will be your clue that Tasha is typing not Danny, he loves Christmas cake—western style.
For Christmas dinner most families “in the know” will sit down to a chicken dinner and eat cake for dessert. Unfortunately, chicken will not cut it for six homesick Canadians in the area and a few days after Christmas we will ban together for a real turkey dinner with all the fixings purchased at astronomical rates from the Foreign Buyers Club.
Unfortunately, I can not wait that long to get in the Christmas spirit especially since I will be working until 9pm on Christmas Day. So, today I hopped on my bike and rode to an area of town which I do not frequent. I went to a nice lush looking shrine and skulked around to make sure no one was looking. I then pulled out my clippers and a big black bag and began trimming some of the shaggier cedar trees. They really did need tending to and I doubt that the seven lucky gods will mind. Needless to say my wreath and garlands look and smell lovely. With my ill gotten boughs we are beginning to weave together an advent season for ourselves where despite the lack of liturgy and family we are preparing to celebrate.