Winter Illuminations at Grimm no Mori Park
Every winter in Japan, the country's parks and commercial centers comes alive with spectacular lights and illuminations to brighten the season's long chilly nights. Most of these spots have Christmas themes and decorations while some just display floral or fairy tale themes. One of my favorite spots near my town is Grimm no Mori. Fairy Tale Theme Illumination I wrote a previous blog about Grimm no Mori which you can find here. This park was built as a dedication to the Grimm brothers who wrote world-famous fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel. The sprawling park turns into a fantasy on a winter night. Elaborate Christmas lights are adorned at every corner of each garden, making it one of the…
The Origins of Christmas Customs
Christmas is coming and while several countries celebrate this holiday season, the traditions and customs may differ from one another. Some countries celebrate Christmas because of religious beliefs but others celebrate in a more secular way, out of merry-making festivities and parties. Christmas as a Christian Holiday Christians celebrate the holiday as the birth of Jesus Christ. Although there is no concrete evidence that Christ was born on December 25, they celebrate it with church masses/services, prayers, lighting of the candles on advent wreaths, and setting up nativity figurines at homes. At midnight on December 24th, a feast is held to welcome the 25th day which is believed to be the birth of Jesus. The next morning is celebrated by…
5 Christmas Desserts To Try in Japan
In a few days, most people will celebrate Christmas and plan their food ahead of Christmas Eve dinner. Although Christmas is not widely celebrated in Japan, you can enjoy the season through its unique food and drinks. Interestingly, you will find a wide variety of sweets not known to your country, and trust me, they are mouthwatering and visually appealing! They are inspired by Western-style confectioneries with a Japanese twist. Not so sweet and most of all the texture is fluffy. Here are five popular Christmas desserts in Japan. 1. Strawberry Sponge Cake (Ichigo Shortcake) The most popular cake in Japan, this delectable dessert is made of vanilla-flavored sponge cake frosted with rare cream and topped with strawberries. The cake…
