クリスマスの歌！ Stille Nacht

日本でのクリスマス Christmas in Japan is quite different from America. Only 1/2 of 1% of the Japanese population is Christian. In spite of this, the Japanese are great lovers of festivals and celebrations, including Christmas. December 25th is not a national holiday in Japan, although December 23rd, which is the birthdate of the present emperor, is. The Japanese celebrate Christmas Eve by eating a 'Christmas Cake' which the father of the family purchases on his way home from work (or his wife does in the case where he has to work on Christmas Eve). Stores all over carry versions of this Christmas cake and drop the price of it drastically on December 25th in order to sell everything out by the 26th. This has resulted in a rather interesting expression in which young girls are referred to as a 'Christmas cakes': marriageable until their 25th birthday and requiring heavy discounts to get married after their 25th birthdays.

日本でのクリスマス Christmas Eve has been hyped by the T.V. media as being a time for romantic miracles. Japanese spend the time with their partner in a romantic setting, so fancy restaurants and hotels are often booked solid at this time. It is often also a time when couples can reveal their affections to each other. Because of this, extending a girl an invitation to be together on Christmas Eve has very deep, romantic implications. Christmas presents are exchanged between couples as well as close friends. The presents tend to be 'cute' presents and often include Teddy Bears, flowers, scarves, rings and other jewelry. Christmas cards are also given to close friends. Christmas lighting and displays are often up at the end of October and this year many stores have displays featuring Teddy Bears. There is also a trend developing for make-it-yourself presents.

日本でのクリスマス How expensive a Christmas present Japanese receive is dependent on their relationship to the giver. Year-end presents are given during this season to people who have done you a favor during the year, however, in contrast to Christmas presents, they are given between companies, to bosses, to teachers, and family friends. These presents are known as 'Oseibo' and are generally things which are perishable or which wear out quickly. The Christmas season comes during the month of the year-end parties. Company groups, hobby groups, sports groups, etc. often book a section of a restaurant to have drinking parties, known as 'bonenkai' [forget the old year parties]. This phenomena leads to streets, subways, and trains full of people in varied states of intoxication during this season.

「雪（ゆき）」 １９１１

雪やこんこ あられやこんこ 降っては 降っては ずんずんつもる 山も 野原も 綿ぼうしかぶり 枯れ木 残らず 花が咲く あられ Hail こんこ Sound of Snow Falling 降（ふ）る To fall つもる To pile up 野原(のはら) Field 綿(わた) Cotton かぶる To wear (hat) 枯(か）れ木(き) Bare-branched tree 残(のこ)る To be left 咲(さ)く To bloom

雪やこんこ あられやこんこ 降っても 降っても まだ降りやまぬ 犬は喜び庭かけまわり 猫はこたつで丸くなる 止む To stop 喜(よろこ)び Happiness 庭(にわ) Yard かけまわる To run around 丸(まる)くなる Curl up

雪やこんこ あられやこんこ 降っては 降っては ずんずんつもる 山も 野原も 綿ぼうしかぶり 枯れ木 残らず 花が咲く 雪やこんこ あられやこんこ 降っても 降っても まだ降りやまぬ 犬は喜び庭かけまわり 猫はこたつで丸くなる

清（きよ）しこの夜（よる） Stille Nacht

清し この夜 星は光り 救いの御子は 馬槽の中に 眠り給う いと安く 清(きよ)し Silent/clear 夜(よる) Night 星(ほし) Star 光(ひか)る To shine 救(すく)い Salvation 御子(みこ) Child/son 馬槽(うまぶね) Manger 眠(ねむ)る To sleep いと安(やす)く Peacefully

清し この夜 御告げ受けし 牧人達は 御子の御前に ぬかずきぬ かしこみて 告（つ）げ Message 受（う）ける Receive 牧人(まきと) Shepherds ぬかずく To prostrate oneself かしこむ To be in awe

清し この夜 御子の笑みに 恵みの御代の 朝の光 輝けり ほがらかに 笑(え)み Smile 恵(めぐ)み Blessed 代(よ) Era/Age 光(ひかり) Light 輝(かがや)く To shine ほがらか Happily

清し この夜 星は光り 救いの御子は 馬槽の中に 眠り給う いと安く 清し この夜 御告げ受けし 牧人達は 御子の御前に ぬかずきぬ かしこみて 清し この夜 御子の笑みに 恵みの御代の 朝の光 輝けり ほがらかに

蛍（ほたる）の光（ひかり） １８８１

「蛍の光」のれきし “Hotaru no Hikari” is often sung on New Year‘s Eve. However, in Japan, the song is most associated with graduation ceremonies, at the conclusions of which it is invariably sung. More recently,　instrumental versions of "Hotaru no Hikari" have been broadcast at supermarkets and pachinko parlors at closing time. When customers start hearing this song over the PA system, it is time for them to leave. Since its composition in the late 19th century, "Hotaru no Hikari" has become an integral part of Japanese culture. In fact, most Japanese do not realize that the music originated outside of their country. "Hotaru no Hikari" made its first appearance in Shuuji Izawa's "Summary of Singing" in 1881. The usage of the pentatonic scale (common in both Japanese and Scottish music) in "Auld Lang Syne" made it easy for the Japanese to adapt the music. It is often said that the composer of the Japanese lyrics is unknown. However, according to many sources, the composer is most likely Chikai Inagaki, a teacher in the Tokyo Instructor's School . http://everything2.com/title/Hotaru+no+Hikari

ほたるの光（ひかり） まどの雪 書（ふみ）よむ月日 かさねつつ いつしか年も すぎのとを あけてぞけさは わかれ行（ゆ）く ほたる Firefly 光 Light ふみ Scroll/Book かさねる To pile up すぎる To pass on けさ Morning わかれる To part ways

泊まるも行（ゆ）くも かぎりとて かたみに思う ちよろずの 心のはしを 一言に さきくとばかり 歌うなり 泊（と）まる To stay かぎり End かたみ Memento ちよろず Countless 心（こころ） Heart はし Corner/end さき Happiness ばかり Only

ほたるの光（ひかり） まどの雪 書（ふみ）よむ月日 かさねつつ いつしか年も すぎのとを あけてぞけさは わかれ行（ゆ）く 泊まるも行（ゆ）くも かぎりとて かたみに思う ちよろずの 心のはしを 一言に さきくとばかり 歌うなり

つくしのきわみ. From the far reaches of Kyushu みちのおく つくしのきわみ From the far reaches of Kyushu 　みちのおく Far along the roads うみやまとおく Though separated by seas 　へだつとも and mountains そのまごころは The sincere heart 　へだてなく is not parted. ひとつにつくせ We give our all as one 　くにのため for our country.

千島のおくも The far reaches of Chijima おきなわも to Okinawa やしまのうちの sheltered in the embrace まもりなり of our country. いたらんくにに Without holding anything back いさおしく bravely, for our country, つとめよわがせ I’ll devote my life つつがなく faithfully.

雪やこんこ あられやこんこ 降っては 降っては ずんずんつもる 山も 野原も 綿ぼうしかぶり 枯れ木 残らず 花が咲く 雪やこんこ あられやこんこ 降っても 降っても まだ降りやまぬ 犬は喜び庭かけまわり 猫はこたつで丸くなる

清し この夜 星は光り 救いの御子は 馬槽の中に 眠り給う いと安く 清し この夜 御告げ受けし 牧人達は 御子の御前に ぬかずきぬ かしこみて 清し この夜 御子の笑みに 恵みの御代の 朝の光 輝けり ほがらかに

ほたるの光（ひかり） まどの雪 書（ふみ）よむ月日 かさねつつ いつしか年も すぎのとを あけてぞけさは わかれ行（ゆ）く 泊まるも行（ゆ）くも かぎりとて かたみに思う ちよろずの 心のはしを 一言に さきくとばかり 歌うなり