I got my wish!!!  A white Christmas!  Thank you, thank you, thank you! In my last post of the year, I simply want to wish you a very merry Christmas, and a wonderful new year.  I look forward to seeing you all in 2017! Here are a few of my memories of Christmases past. 1989 1991 1994 1997   2006 2007 2008 Christmas is a time for making and remembering good memories.  I hope you can make many new memories this Christmas.    

On the final Monday before  Christmas, I will add a few more common Christmas symbols that are used but not fully understood. First, the star.  Almost every Christmas tree in Japan is topped with a star.  Did you know this star represents the star that the 3 wise men followed to find the baby Jesus?   The wise men also gave the first presents, our second symbol today.  At Christmas time, it is common to exchange gifts.  Many people think this is to remember the gifts that the wise men brought to the baby Jesus.  The first gifts were: These were all very valuable gifts at that time. Last Saturday, I visited Blume Messe in Katagami to see the beautiful poinsettia tree. While we were there, we found some Christmas Holly, that I really wanted for my garden, so I bought one plant and hope it will last until spring when I can replant it outside. This is the final symbol of Christmas.  It is such a beautiful plant that I was surprised when I researched the meaning.  It represents the thorns in the crown of thorns on Jesus Christ head when he was crucified, and the red berries represent the drops of blood.  Some people say the word comes from "HOLY" But for me, it is just a beautiful Christmas plant. [caption id="attachment_790" align="alignnone" width="757"] My first holly[/caption]   I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and spend some time together with your family.

As promised, this week I will talk about a few of the symbols of Christmas that are commonly used in Japan, but perhaps not completely understood. First, Santa Claus.  He represents giving, helping and is also a symbol of God, rewarding good children with presents and punishing disobedient children with lumps of coal or switches. I was Santa Claus on Saturday at a local kindergarten.. What do you think? In America, Santa always gives children a candy cane.  That is our second symbol today. The candy cane represents helping those in need.Santa gives this to children to remind them that not only at Christmas time, but all year round, we must help others.                       And finally, today, the Christmas tree.  Saturday afternoon, we put up our Christmas tree.  Last year. my father passed away,  so we didn't put up a tree.  Christmas trees are "evergreens", meaning they don't lose their leaves in winter.  They are a symbol of eternal life, but I enjoy them for the beauty they bring to my living room.  Here is our tree this year.    

This is a common phrase used at this time of the year in America  So many people are busy busy busy shopping, cooking, preparing, and decorating, that they don't have time to really think what Christmas  is about. I love the symbols of Christmas that remind us to help our fellow man.  To reach out to those in need.  These are good messages for everyone, Christian or not. Last week I put up two of our families nativities, one in the front entrance to my home, and one on our piano. We call these displays, nativities, or chreches.  They are displayed in many homes around America. Next week I'll talk about some other symbols of Christmas.

Are you getting ready for Christmas yet?  Christmas seems to come earlier in Japan than America.  In America, last Thursday was Thanksgiving.  The following Friday is traditionally the start of the Christmas season.  It's also a holiday in America, many people use it to start their Christmas shopping. The stores have their best sales of the year on this day, and it has become to be called Black Friday because of black ink, instead of red ink. I was really surprised to see Japan start to copy Black Friday.  Is this going to be a new tradition in Japan? Personally, I completely ignored Black Friday.  I did use Saturday to put away my Thanksgiving decorations and put up my Christmas lights.  Maybe I'll start a new tradition "Rainbow Saturday"  What do you think of my lights this year? It certainly looks more peaceful than this:  

Last week was a little depressing for me.  The news of Trump's choices for various positions kept coming in day by day. But what's done is done!  It's time to move on.  Today let's learn a few phrases about optimism (楽観主義）　and hope for the best! The sun will come out tomorrow.  (Watch on youtube, click here)   The glass is half full.   It could always be worse.   And finally, a short poem that my mother had on her kitchen wall, it's so true! As a rule, man's a fool! When it's hot, he wants it cool, When it's cool, he wants it hot Aways wanting what it's not, Never wanting what he's got Let's look to the future with hope . . . I hope!

I was waiting until after the election to post my new phrase.  I thought it would be "VICTORY AT LAST" or "Hillary has broken the glass ceiling".  Unfortunately, Trump has won.  I'm still in shock, and a little depressed. So, today's phrase is: I'm in mourning for my nation.   That's all the energy I have this week.  I hope I'll see you next time.