Christmas in Asia

Christianity is predominant religion in only two Asian countries - the Philippines and East Timor. Christians make higher percentage of total population in Lebanon and South Korea. Still, Christmas is a very popular holiday all over Asia.

The most popular Christmas decoration in the Philippines is "pah-role." It is a bamboo pole with lighted star on top of it. This pole represents the guiding star of Bethlehem. People also decorate their homes with buntings, candles and wreaths. Numerous Christmas cards are put in the living room for everyone to see. Cities shine in colourful lights.

Bibingka

Christmas season in the Philippines starts on the 16th December with the first of nine early morning masses. People do not sleep in the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The feast on Christmas Eve ("Noche Buena") starts after midnight. It is difficult to properly describe the abundance of Christmas meal in the Philippines. Here are just some of dishes often consumed as part of the meal - "bibingka" (type of pudding), "puto bungbong" (snack made from sticky rice), "kare-kare" (oxtail stew in peanut butter sauce), "rellenong manok" (baked stuffed chicken) etc.

Kare-kare stew

The center of family Christmas celebration in the Philippines is "lola." Lola is an elder family member, grandparent who is highly respected in every Filipino family. Children line up in front of this person and he or she gives them some coins. Elder child gets more coins than the younger one. On Christmas Day children visit their aunts, uncles, godmothers and godfathers. There they get some money, sweets or little toys.

Only about 2% of Japanese people are Christians. Nevertheless, Christmas in its commercial form is very popular. On Christmas many people eat what they call "Christmas cake." Christmas cake in Japan is a sponge cakes with whipped cream and some fruit as toppings. Japanese lovers think that being together on Christmas is especially beautiful. Christmas presents are usually exchanged between lovers or close friends.

During Christmas season you may often hear the 9th Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). The Japanese call it the “Daiku” or “Great Nine”. The illuminated Christmas tree made from 3,795 champagne glasses can be seen in Tokyo.

Many Japanese cities have wonderful Christmas illuminations. They are set sometime in November. They are removed around Christmas or New Year. There are cases where such illuminations are left until Valentine's Day.

The Japanese do not have Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas. But, they do have a person called "Hoteiosho". He is described as an old man carrying a big sack. It is believed that he has eyes in the back of his head. That is why children have to be good when Hoteiosho is around.

Santa or "Santa Haraboji" is very popular among children in Korea. What differs him from Santas you all know is the fact that in Korea he wears red and blue clothes. Christmas meal in Korea includes traditional Korean dishes like sweet potato noodles, "bulgogi" (barbecued beef), rice cake soup and ”kimchi” ("gimchi").