Today is TOJI = the winter solstice. In Japan bathing with yuzu on the winter solstice is a popular custom. At home, at hot springs we enjoy "yuzu yu" (Yuzu bathing) with fruit floating in the hot water of the bath (sometimes enclosed in a clothes bag). If you can get Yuzu, please try it. Yuzu is known for its strong fresh aroma, and its oil make our skin smooth, it should relax you well.
Anyway I laughed to read this news of AXA. The title is "More than 10 million Britons (22%) are stressed and worried about the cost ofChristmas and New Year according to research from "AXA". But look at their Global Gift Generosity Guide. The average price for Christmas gift of American is $1345. The budget of British people is $1056. And look! Japanese will buy only $160. I am so surprised! ODOROITA! Am I surprised at what? Why so expensive? How many gifts will you buy? How much do you pay for one gift??
I will talk about my case. I used to spend Christmas day with my parents until maybe 18 years or so. We exchanged Christmas gift every year. I remember they gave me LEGO, Long Boots, those kind of things. I gave "massage ticket" or "cleaning ticket" when I was a little girl. After high school, I have usually spent Christmas with my friends, and sometimes in foreign country and my brother did the same. So automatically we stopped home party. Although we don't have it, I got Christmas gift for my parents, it is very easy to find something for my mom, but always it is very hard to find it for my dad. This year, I plan to give some "free travel gifts" to them.
Here is the ranking of women's desire and men's desire in Yahoo in Japan. Yes, they are all more expensive than the result of AXA report. Maybe single people exchange their stuff with their girlfriends and boyfriends. I looked at another research "what gift will you buy for Christmas?". Women choose sweaters, globes, home-made cakes and dinner, games and toys, and love. Guys take cakes, dining out, toys (for children), clothes, and Jewelry. Japanese think that cakes, dinners and love are a kind of Christmas gifts. Maybe this might sound strange for others? The title of Yahoo news about AXA reports is "Japanese Santa is such cheeseparing?!" Ha ha ha, but I think Japan celebrated it after their own style without knowing traditions and religious meaning. That is the big reason of that difference. On New Year day, Japanese family spend time together and parents/adults will give Otoshidama (cash) to children, it is our traditional custom. Guess what! An average price of Otoshidama that one child got was over 24000 yen. It's more than Christmas gift of AXA report. I suppose for many Japanese, Christmas is a pass point to the New Year Day.