This year will be our ninth Christmas in Japan.  As with all of you, we work hard to remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.  We make sure that our children know this and stay focused on it also.  No matter where in the world we are, that doesn’t change!

Christmas in Japan arrives early, just like it does in the States.  In October already, stores put up decorations.  Lighted displays are common, trees and santas abound.  Christmas music can be heard piped through the sound systems at our stores.  Often times I even catch myself humming along to a religious carol as I shop!  Every time I catch myself, however, I also stop to remind myself that while I understand the message in the song, 99% of the people listening do not.  So much work to be done here!

In our home we have a Christmas tree up, nativity scenes on display, Christmas cookies baking, carols playing, etc.  Inside our home we celebrate Christmas like we would anywhere else.  The Japanese people don’t usually have a large tree, but might have a small one or a few pretty decorations. They’ll eat Christmas cake (white cake with whipped cream frosting and strawberries on top) instead of cookies.  Christmas parties are common.  We hold a special party for our ESL (English as a Second Language) students. It’s a great opportunity to share the gospel message to them!

Christmas Day is not a nationally recognized holiday in Japan.  It’s a regular work day, just like any other day.  Because of this, it is nearly impossible for church members to attend a Christmas Day service.  This means that our churches do not hold Christmas morning services.  Instead, our churches usually have an evening service either on December 23rd or 24th. December 23rd is a national holiday – it is the emperor’s birthday.  This makes it an easy day for families to attend church services.  This year, our family will be attending a special service at one church on Sunday, the 21st and at another church on Tuesday, the 23rd.  Because the church members decided on these two days for their special services, it means that our family will not have a special service to attend on Christmas Eve or
Christmas Day.  Instead we will have our own family worship in our home.

On December 27th, we will have a special gathering with our missionary families and other Americans to celebrate Christmas in English, American style.  We will gather for the day, enjoying food together, games, gifts and fellowship.  We will also gather for a special worship service in which our children will present a traditional style children’s Christmas service.  It is a day we all look forward to!

Christmas in stores around the country ends on the evening of December 25th. As of December 26th, everyone is getting ready for the New Year’s holiday, which is really the big family holiday of the season here.  For us, it is hard to be far from family on Christmas, to not be together with them for the holidays.  But the hardest part is watching how quickly Christmas is gone and forgotten here.  Christmas is, for most, just another fun day, a commercial holiday.  There is no meaning to the day.  And the real joy of
Christmas doesn’t linger in their hearts.  Please pray that we are able to share the Christmas joy with many Japanese people this holiday season!!

Lynnette Stahmann