Archives: 2009 April

he idea of moving to Japan for school or for work has become extremely popular in recent times. Japan offers many great opportunities for people who are not native to the country. The thrill of learning a new culture is another reason why living in Japan is an exciting prospect for many people. The thrill of learning the Japanese language and being immersed in the culture is very exciting for many.

Living in a different country can be a challenge for anyone, so realizing that the Japanese are very particular about their customs and correct manners is very important. As a foreigner it is important that you become familiar with the basic rules of Japanese society. While many Japanese will cut a foreigner some slack on incorrect etiquette, if one performs something that is extremely disrespectful, then it might not be overlooked. Additionally, it is in your best interest as well to learn a little bit about the rules of a country that you are visiting or planning to live in.

An example of a Japanese culture difference involves entering a home. In Japan it is expected that outside shoes will be removed. The host then provides slippers for the guests to wear. Many people are aware of this Japanese custom; however, there are other shoe etiquette customs that are required in Japan that are not as widely known. For example, another Japanese society custom requires that any room with a tatami floor is to only be stepped on with socks or bare feet. Additionally, there are special slippers that are to be worn exclusively in the bathroom.

Learning all of the rules and proper etiquette for a new country that you’re planning on living in or visiting is a very huge undertaking. This is true for anyone deciding that living in Japan is for them. It would be impossible for anybody to expect that they would learn everything about a culture before they visit the country. The best idea is to try and learn as much of the main etiquette rules of Japanese society as you can. That way there is less of a chance that you will greatly insult anybody. Usually natives in a country will realize that a foreigner is not going out of their way to do something insulting on purpose. They probably just did not realize the impact of what they did or said. As you spend more time with the Japanese people, you will learn more and more about their culture and how you are expected to act. When you come across some rules and etiquettes that are the same as your own native land they are then easier to understand and remember.

Living in Japan is an option that many foreigners are taking these days. They are moving to Japan in record numbers for work or for school. The idea of learning a new culture and living in a totally different environment from where they come from is very exciting for most. The Japanese culture will become more understood as more non natives move in.

Even though Christmas Day rightfully gets most of the time and attention during the holidays, for a good number of families it is Christmas Eve that is considered to be their most special time and when many wonderful memories are forged.

Of course, Christmas Eve is December 24th, the day before Santa’s Day. In other words, it is the eve of the birth of Jesus Christ. Many families have distinct and significant traditions that help them make it unique to their family.

For some families, there is no better time to set up and adorn the Christmas tree than on its Eve. Many families make this activity a grand event with invited guests and music and special treats. For other families, it is a more quiet and personal time.

But for other families, putting up the Christmas tree on Christmas eve in simply way too late into the holiday season. In fact, the majority of families now put their Christmas trees up in early December and some can barely wait for Thanksgiving to be over to bring out the tree.

Nowadays, nearly all of the Christian countries have shortened business hours on Christmas Eve to give their employees the time to prepare for this special Day. They may take this time to participate in special family or church observances or to take care of their very last minute shopping.

In the western world, most of the Christian churches have some type of service for the day on the eve of the birth of Jesus Christ. The faithful gather to focus their thoughts on the advent of the birth of Jesus Christ and to set the spiritual tone for their celebrations.

Christmas caroling is another tradition for families and church congregations that is often enjoyed on its Eve, to spread good wishes and cheer to friends and neighbors. Often, the carolers will make special efforts to share their music and song with people in retirement centers and nursing homes, brightening their holidays considerably.

Not all of the Eve traditions or celebrations are of a spiritual nature and Santa Claus is a fun, cultural tradition for most families, especially for those with young children.

Christmas Eve is the time when young children have trouble getting to sleep as they anticipate the arrival of Santa with his bagful of gifts. Before bedtime, eager children carefully hang their stockings with care and leave treats of cookies and milk for Santa, as well as a few carrots for his magical reindeer.

In some countries, such as Germany and the Scandinavian lands, it is the traditional time to open the presents on the Eve. But in the United States and Canada, most families wait until the special day. With the sun barely over the horizon, children enthusiastically pull their parents from their beds to start the unwrapping. In most of Latin America, people stay awake with fireworks and celebrations until midnight and then they gather to open their gifts.

The Japanese have long been known as a people very proud of their customs and traditions. While many of their traditions are very old, dating back as far as history can recollect, there have also been many new customs and traditions added over the years. Many people coming to Japan to conduct trades with the Japanese people brought their own customs to Japan; passing them on.

One thing that has always played a huge role in the culture of the Japanese is their language. While their language is spoken the most in Japan, it is also used around the world in many communities that are home to emigrant Japanese people. Around the world where those individuals live and still wish to keep the culture of their home land, they continue to speak the language within their communities. This is in keeping with the traditions of Japan to keep them alive.

Another part of the culture is Japanese art. Their forms of art include paintings, calligraphy and sculptures. Calligraphy is a traditional form of writing that is well known in China Japan and other Asian countries. While calligraphy is an art form in itself, it also contains other forms of art. What is written with calligraphy may be a poem, a story, a well known phrase or simply a single character. This form of writing is not easy to learn and many who try have to make several attempts at the writing to make it perfect. Japanese cuisine, Japanese music and the Japanese style of living are also elements that make this country unique.

From Japan to other countries where Japanese emigrants and descendents live, the cultural awareness is strong and kept alive by many. While many of the significant cultural ideals have been adapted over the years from other cultures, there are some that are truly traditional to Japan and have been handed down for centuries. Whether it is through the language that the culture of Japan is kept alive or the forms of art, cuisine and music that are participated in, this culture has mystified people for many centuries and is sure to continue to do so in the years to come.

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