Japanese way of Christmas

Did you know that the Japanese celebrate Christmas typically, or should say, traditionally, with KFC?

Though only 1% of the Japanese population is Christian, 25th Dec is a secular holiday in the country, its become a family traditional Christmas meal: a KFC "party barrel" brimming with salad, cake and lots of fried chicken.

How did this happen? After the World Wars in 1940s and 50s, there was a period of rigorous austerity in Japan after which it really started taking off. People had cash and all major foreign names were opening shop there. American goods were considered to be ‘luxury’ and when KFC opened shop, this meal caught on as a feeling of celebration, a feeling of spending on a special day.

KFC Christmas ad from the 1970s or '80s likely would have showcased a family enjoying a luscious feast of golden, fried chicken as the song "My Old Kentucky Home" played in the background. Thus Christmas was associated with the idea of consuming luxurious foods and the idea took off!  KFC was considered to be the ‘American’ way of celebrating Christmas.

So what is our way of celebrating Christmas?