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Essay

That special something

People are often surprised when I tell them Japan celebrates Valentine's Day three times a year. The first is on Feb. 14, when women give men chocolates. One month later, on March 14, men give women jewelry. Then, on Dec. 25, men and women celebrate each other by admiring Christmas lights together at the local mega shopping complex, or enjoying a romantic Christmas meal for two.

At least that's what advertising seems to say. Perhaps all this romance is part of the Japanese government's plan to increase the population?

It took me a little while to get used to Japan's "couples" Christmas, because Christmas in New Zealand tends to be more of a family affair similar to Japan's New Year. In New Zealand, people go back to their hometowns to spend time with their parents and other family members.

While the Japanese are spending time with their families during the New Year, in the West it's not uncommon to ring in the New Year with drinking and partying, with people often hoping to share a New Year's kiss with someone special.

In New Zealand, people sometimes forget the religious significance behind Dec. 25. However, in Japan, the religious aspect is pretty much non-existent. Christmas hymns are rarely heard coming out of Japanese shop owners' speakers, with Mariah Carey or George Michael the preferred favorites.

If it's not a special someone advertisers are trying to get us to find and spend money on, it's a special something. Businesses also like to use Christmas as a time to get consumers spending. This is why I don't enjoy Christmas, as I feel there's a lot of pressure to simply shop and buy.

Despite the different interpretations of Christmas and New Years in Japan and New Zealand, there is one thing that the two countries have in common during this time of year: After spending a quiet evening with family, either on Christmas or the New Year, the very next day, women are often compelled to get aggressive at department store sales.

Boxing Day (Dec. 26) sales in New Zealand are similar to New Year's sales in Japan with crowds of shoppers eager to get their hands on a bargain. Regardless of nationality, it seems to be female instinct to go crazy for sale items in department stores. This part of the festive season is actually what I enjoy most — watching news reports of usually docile women wrestle for discounted scarves and bags.

I try to recover from all these commercialized, romance-overloaded Christmases and New Years, by going home to New Zealand for some peaceful family time during Chinese New Year.

Unfortunately, it tends to fall around Valentine's Day. It's just as well, my special something will always be chocolate.

Shukan ST: December 25, 2009

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Essay That special something By Samantha Loong People are often surprised when I tell them Japan celebrates Valentine's Day three times a year. The first is on Feb. 14, when women give men chocolates. One month later, on March 14, men give women jewelry. Then, on Dec. 25, men and women celebrate each other by admiring Christmas lights together at the local mega shopping complex, or enjoying a romantic Christmas meal for two. At least that's what advertising seems to say. Perhaps all this romance is part of the Japanese government's plan to increase the population? It took me a little while to get used to Japan's "couples" Christmas, because Christmas in New Zealand tends to be more of a family affair similar to Japan's New Year. In New Zealand, people go back to their hometowns to spend time with their parents and other family members. While the Japanese are spending time with their families during the New Year, in the West it's not uncommon to ring in the New Year with drinking and partying, with people often hoping to share a New Year's kiss with someone special. In New Zealand, people sometimes forget the religious significance behind Dec. 25. However, in Japan, the religious aspect is pretty much non-existent. Christmas hymns are rarely heard coming out of Japanese shop owners' speakers, with Mariah Carey or George Michael the preferred favorites. If it's not a special someone advertisers are trying to get us to find and spend money on, it's a special something. Businesses also like to use Christmas as a time to get consumers spending. This is why I don't enjoy Christmas, as I feel there's a lot of pressure to simply shop and buy. Despite the different interpretations of Christmas and New Years in Japan and New Zealand, there is one thing that the two countries have in common during this time of year: After spending a quiet evening with family, either on Christmas or the New Year, the very next day, women are often compelled to get aggressive at department store sales. Boxing Day (Dec. 26) sales in New Zealand are similar to New Year's sales in Japan with crowds of shoppers eager to get their hands on a bargain. Regardless of nationality, it seems to be female instinct to go crazy for sale items in department stores. This part of the festive season is actually what I enjoy most — watching news reports of usually docile women wrestle for discounted scarves and bags. I try to recover from all these commercialized, romance-overloaded Christmases and New Years, by going home to New Zealand for some peaceful family time during Chinese New Year. Unfortunately, it tends to fall around Valentine's Day. It's just as well, my special something will always be chocolate. Shukan ST: December 25, 2009 (C) All rights reserved