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Published: November 9th 2007
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shima542
Jem Jem and her evil pumpkin As I explained last year, Halloween is a very popular thing in Japan, but only commercially. Japanese people don’t actually celebrate the holiday in any way other than buying things like little plastic jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin cakes. Still, I can tell that Japanese people are really interested in the holiday and think it’s a fun idea. It’s just they don’t really understand what it’s all about, just like Americans might want to celebrate Oktoberfest or Cinco de Mayo but don’t understand what the holiday is. In fact, I’m sure many Americans don’t understand why we celebrate Halloween either. And why wouldn’t Japanese people want to learn more about Halloween? It’s such a fun holiday that countries all over the world are starting to celebrate it even if it isn’t traditionally a part of their culture.
So, I have made sure that all of my students at least understand a bit more about Halloween traditions and why we do them. I made a Halloween jeopardy game with different categories about Halloween traditions, symbols, food, etc. I also taught all of my students the Halloween song I used to sing in elementary school “H-A-double L-O-W-double E-N spells Halloween” sung to the tune
shima543
Some students from my adult English conversation class and their happy pumpkin of “Dance Macabre.”
At my junior high school we did all kinds of Halloween activities. Each class carved a jack-o-lantern. And since the big orange variety of pumpkin used for carving in the U.S. isn’t really available in Japan, I had to do a bit of hunting off the island of Yuge until I found a flower shop where I could order them. I ordered five big pumpkins that were delivered to Yuge port in a huge box on the ferry. We also did apple bobbing in all my classes. The students were a bit hesitant at first to dunk their heads into a tub of water, but once they started, they became determined to get their apples without using their hands. Finally, my second-year students at the junior high school made pumpkin pies (my favorite!) from scratch. YUMMY!
I also carved a pumpkin with my adult English conversation class. We put it outside the board of education building (where we have our classes) so that everyone could see. And, like last year, I hosted a Halloween party for my adult English conversation class (it was perfect because our classes are held on Wednesday night, the same night
as Halloween). Last year I told everyone that since it was a HALLOWEEN party, EVERYONE had to wear a costume. Still, only one other person and I came in costume.
So, this year I was stricter, and told my students they could only come to the party if they had a costume. But because I gave them such a strict ultimatum, I was worried no one would come. My students complain because we live in the middle of nowhere and there is no place to get a costume here. But, I assured them that you can easily make a costume from materials found at the 100 yen store (like dollar stores) located on the island right next to us. I even had proof because I made my Halloween costume by only spending about 400 yen (about $4) at the 100 yen store. It’s easy to do. You just have to be a little creative.
Luckily, the night of the party EVERYONE came in costume! I guess the strict method works after all! We had a panda, a duck, a creepy mysterious person, a lounge singer (?), a Japanese thief, a leopard, a black cat, a white cat, a ghost,
shima545
my first-year junior high school students apple bobbing a masquerader, and a hula dancer. I was Jem Jem truly outrageous from the eighties cartoon about an all-girl rock band. Ha. Of course, nobody knows about that cartoon here, so I just went as an anonymous rock star. We ate a whole lot of junk food (in true Halloween spirit), played some Halloween games, and watched some home videos of my Halloweens when I was two and three years old. A fun time was had by all I think!
And guess what?! I think since I (only slightly obsessed with Halloween) have come to Yuge, the Halloween cheer really is spreading. I actually had ONE trick-or-treater this year! Just like last year I put my jack-o-lantern outside my apartment door along with a bowl of candy and a sign reading “help yourself” since nobody would know to knock and say “trick-or-treat.” Then, on Halloween night my door bell rang and a little girl dressed as a princess was saying “Happy Halloween!” SO CUTE!!! She was one of my preschool students that had also been learning all about Halloween for the past month like the rest of my students. Of course lots of other people came and took candy,
shima546
my third-year junior high school students apple bobbing but none dressed in costume.
So, I had another successful year of Halloween in Japan. I hope everyone else’s Halloween was just as fun (wherever you may be), and I hope you enjoy my pictures!
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Brooke
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What's a Jem Jem? That pumpkin-on-jennie's-head picture is awesome.