The Christmas and the present in Canada
I enjoyed myself Canadian Christmas holidays with Bob's family in December, 2001. It was somehow different from the "Christmas" in Japan.
I arrived at his home in the afternoon on December 21, and stayed five nights. He often told his son, the third grader in an elementary school, "Santa Claus won't come if you are not a good boy," as the same as in Japan.
He and his wife are very kind enough to host Japanese young people at his home many times, and they had been to Japan before.
Christmas wreath at the front door has quiet color compare with one in Janan.
I asked him to take me to the church on Christmas Eve. As we have little public transportation there, otherwise I need to walk more than an hour, to take taxi, or ask someone to take me to go to the church.
He replied he might not but he could ask his hockey mate, and he phoned his mate on the spot to take me to the church on the Eve.
The garage has its Chrismas wreath, too.
It looks like the New Year's pine decoration in Japan.
On Christmas Eve, I arrived at a church around half past six and the Music Service began at seven. It was my first time to see the pastor playing the piano by himself on Service. The Service with many songs continued until eight and I came back Bob's with his hockey mate family, where I met ten people, and finally I met twenty people at Bob's at the night.
They are Bob's friend family, his sister-in-law family, his hockey mate family, a Chinese friend, a Japanese student AKIRA, who had stayed there for six months as exchange student several years ago, Bob's family, and myself. They had already finished their supper and joined the party.
If it was held in Japan, they would come and joined for their supper!!
We had some drink with deep-fired chicken, some cheese and cracker to enjoy talks. In Japan the party at home means drink with many dishes.
I understood Canadian enjoyed conversation more than meals. Last year I enjoyed a party without any meals, this time I did quasi-Japanese party with some dishes.
(We had a really big Christmas Dinner on the next day!!)
Santa Claus can sometimes be met in front of the house, or as a decoration on the chimney.
Meanwhile someone told us "Santa Claus is in San Francisco now," and I checked the web site at the next room. I found Santa Claus in the screen flying across the Golden Gate Bridge on the reindeer slay. Bob winked at me and said Santa Claus would come to Canada soon. Their child went to bed around ten. After pleasant hours other guests left around midnight. Then we had a big job!!
We checked their son was sleeping, we took out neary 30 packages from closets, under the armchairs, and from the garage. They were Christmas presents, and piled up around the Christmas tree.
Christmas presents piled up around the tree.
Then we finished our job and went to bed.
On the Christmas day, December 25th, the boy woke up around eight and found the Christmas presents, shouted "Santa Claus has come" to call all his family. After the breakfast, the sister family came again and joined opening the presents. When the sender and the receiver were announced for each present, the receiver tore wrapping paper to open it. If it was done in Japan, the wrapping would carefully be open not to be torn.
The boy tore wrapping paper to see open the present to him.
The presents, the receiver wished to have, were prepared or bought by the sender secretly to receiver. And when the receiver opens it, he or she shouts with the look of "Thank you! I really wanted this."
The boy danced for joy after he found his present that he wishes to have.
He has got LEGO, which he really wanted to have.
Bob's wife was delighted to find the present to her.
Her son looked in it.
The mother of Bob's wife's also had presents. It was a remote controller to her car, so that she could start the engine in the room.
As they have very cold winter in Canada, such a thing is useful.
The grandmother who tore wrapping paper, looked at the present and burst into laughter.
A friend of his, who is Chinese, was short in stature, was presented a footstool.
The Chinese lady stood on her footstool with joy.
I also received the T-shirt, the calendar, etc. from Santa Claus, Bob and AKIRA.
I was presented a T-shirt with the picture of Canadian maple leaf.
As they received not only from their families and Santa Claus but from relatives and friends, the number of the presents to the family became nearly 30.
After opening Christmas present, they returned their home to prepare Christmas Dinner, such as roasting turkey, and rejoined in the evening. It was really a big meal for me.
- Related link - Canada embassy(Japnese)
A cut is the Canada national flag.
Go to Top page of Director's Room (Japanese).
Go to Top page of Tokyo Bunka Gakuen (Corporation) (Japanese).
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