Discover the Magic: Top 8 Fascinating Christmas Fun Facts in Japan!

1. KFC Christmas Craze

Who needs a "Silent Night" when you can have a "Fried Night"? It turns out, even Santa ditches his reindeer in Japan for a finger-lickin' bucket of KFC: Since the 1970s, the Christmas season in Japan has been marked by a massive surge in KFC sales, with people pre-ordering their holiday "barrel" meals weeks in advance, as turkey is hard to come by. The fast food chain's festive marketing campaign transformed into a full-blown annual tradition, making KFC one of the most successful fast food establishments in the country, despite Christmas lacking religious symbolism in Japan.
Source => dailymail.co.uk

2. Furoshiki Gift Wrapping

Who needs Santa's workshop when you've got masterful Japanese furoshiki? Tying up a storm in bow-tiful harmony, this eco-friendly ninja has quite the gift wrapping skillset: In Japan, the art of furoshiki wrapping cloths is a popular and sustainable way to wrap various items such as bento boxes, clothes, books, and wine bottles, making gift-giving as green as it gets.
Source => brightly.eco

Did you know that in Germany, St. Nicholas has a wild sidekick, Knecht Ruprecht, who carries a kid-sized sack not for punishing naughty children but to serve as a helper during Christmas? Find out more about this intriguing tradition!

=> Fun Facts about Christmas-In-Germany

3. Christmas Eve Romance

Forget about lovebirds on Valentine's Day and Romeo and Juliet; Christmas Eve in Japan is wrapped up in amorous encounters as if Cupid himself shot an arrow made of gingerbread: Christmas Eve in Japan is considered the most romantic day of the year, where couples wine and dine at fancy restaurants, exchange gifts, and indulge in the rather unexpected tradition of feasting on Kentucky Fried Chicken, with families pre-ordering their finger-lickin' good meal months in advance.
Source => jrailpass.com

4. Move Over, Santa: Meet Hoteiosho

Move over Santa, there's a new gift-bestower in town who's got eyes on the back of his head and might give kids more than they bargained for: In Japan, Hoteiosho, a Buddhist monk and harbinger of good fortune, brings gifts to children during the New Year festivities from December 24th to January 4th, even making appearances on holiday decorations in Japanese homes.
Source => orientalmart.co.uk

5. Kentucky Fried Dates

Forget roses and chocolates; in Japan, it's all about Kentucky Fried dates and twinkling nights: Christmas Eve is celebrated like Valentine's Day, where couples indulge in romantic dinners, special hotel stays, and exchange gifts while visiting festive events and mesmerizing illuminations.
Source => drivemehungry.com

6. Colonel's Christmas Spell

Who needs sugarplums dancing in their heads when Japan serves up finger-lickin' goodness for Christmas? Behold, the power of the Colonel’s secret blend of herbs and spices: In Japan, KFC’s Christmas marketing campaign from 1974, led by first KFC store manager Takeshi Okawara, accounts for a whopping third of the brand's yearly sales – transforming the fast-food chain into a must-have holiday treat, complete with advanced orders and long queues to get their hands on the iconic 'Party Barrel'.
Source => talon.one

7. Mystery Lucky Bags

Care for a festive game of retail Russian roulette? In Japan, shoppers kick off the new year by grabbing a "fukubukuro" – a lucky bag stuffed with mystery: Although the contents remain a surprise until the bag is opened, these merry parcels promise to contain items whose total value far exceeds the purchase price, letting stores clear out their stock and treat eager customers to delightful deals.
Source => tripadvisor.com

8. Gleaming Winter Illuminations

Japan's skies may not twinkle as much with stars during Christmas, but the streets sure give the Milky Way a run for its money: winter illuminations have become a festive staple in Japan, featuring mesmerizing light shows like Kobe's Luminarie, a tribute to the 1995 earthquake victims, and Sagamiko Illumillion in Kanagawa, which blankets entire hillsides with six million LED lights alongside a chair lift and amusement park rides.
Source => japan-guide.com