Christmas in Japan

Christmas in Japan is different from Christmas in western countries like the USA or Australia. It was first celebrated in Japan in the 16th century when the first Europeans arrived, but it is more popular nowadays because Japanese are great lovers of festivals and celebrations. Christmas is not a national holiday there but more and more people decorate their homes and eat a special meal. Illuminations and lights are apopular attraction in cities.

Parents give presents to their children, but children do not give presents to parents. Children know that only Santa brings presents, so when they are older and stop believing in Santa presents are not given to them. Gifts are also exchanged between people who are in love with each other. The presents are very sweet, for example they include teddy bears, flowers, scarves, hats, rings
and other jewellery. Christmas cards are given to close friends.

The most happy about Christmas are shop owners because they earn more money than during the whole year. Shops are decorated with Christmas trees, mistletoes and other decorations a few weeks before Christmas. The Japanese celebrate Christmas Eve by eating a special ’Christmas Cake’ made of strawberries and cream, which the father of the family buys on his way home from work. The cake is the traditional Japanese Christmas food and it is amust on that day.

BASED ON: HTTP://WWW.JAPANESELIFESTYLE.COM.AU
HTTP://WWW.JAPAN-GUIDE.COM
HTTP://WWW.TANUTECH.COM

1. Children do not get a present for Christmas when they
A. do not give gifts to their parents.
B. do not have close friends.
C. do not believe in Santa any more.

2. Which of these are NOT Christmas gifts in Japan?
A. soft toys.
B. sweets.
C. clothes.

3.At Christmas time in Japan
A. shops have a lot of customers.
B. cities are not decorated.
C. people do not go to work.

4. The text tells the reader
A. how Christmas is celebrated in western countries.
B. about Japanese Christmas traditions.
C. the history of Christmas around the world.

Tekst oraz pytania pochodzą z próbnego testu gimnazjalnego z Gazety Wyborczej: http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/7/8421/m8421607.pdf