師走になると忘年会が相次いで、なんとなく落ちつかない日本。仕事納めまでは忙しムードだが、欧米では12月も半ばを過ぎると、クリスマス休暇に入る人が多く、オフィス街はいつもより静かになってホリデームードになる。

この時期はクリマスシーズンと呼ばれていたが、最近はホリデーシーズンと呼ばれることが多くなってきている。

　

Asami: Hi, Jason, Christmas is almost here. What are you planning to do?

Jason: Well, it is a tradition in my family to go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and the next morning we attend Church again. After that, we have a big dinner with the family, and then we go caroling around the neighbourhood singing traditional religious Christmas songs.

Asami: Wow! That is very different from my usual Christmas routine. What is Midnight Mass?

Jason: Midnight Mass happens every Christmas Eve around the world, and it is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. For my family, who is Catholic, Christmas is a very religious holiday.

Asami: In Japan, where the major religions are Buddhism and Shinto, Christmas is not seen as such a religious holiday.

Jason: I see. What is your Christmas routine?

Asami: Well, Christmas Eve is a very romantic night for couples in Japan, so hopefully I will have a date for that night. The next day everyone usually goes to work. People do not usually take Christmas day off from work.

Jason: That’s neat! I never thought of Christmas Eve as a romantic night.

Asami: Yes! For me, New Year’s is a much more significant celebration. On New Year’s Day, my family and I get together, and my Obaasan cooks up yummy, traditional New Year’s Day food. It is a great chance to spend time with each other.

Jason: I guess the holidays, whether you are religious or not, is a great chance to do just that: get together with family and celebrate.

Asami: That’s very true! No matter what we believe, everyone should take a moment during the holidays to see those they care about, whether that’s friends or family.

　

Midnight mass ： 真夜中に行なうミサ
Go caroling around the neighbourhood ： 近所をクリスマスキャロルを歌って回る
Routine ： 習慣
Thought of ： ・・・について思う
Significant celebration ： 意味深いお祭り
Get together ： 集まる
Cook up yummy traditional New Year’s Day food ： おいし?いお正月料理を作る
Very true ： 本当にその通り
To see those they care about ： ・・・に会う