Pickles, Parties and Sweet Forgiveness

By popular demand –  the Christmas Pickle, it is a family tradition (from my father’s Bohemian side). The pickle I have is a hand blown ornament, which has been in the family for four generations, at least. It looks like a pickle. When the milk and cookies are left out for Santa, the pickle is left out as well. Santa hides the pickle in the branches of the Christmas tree when he leaves the gifts. In the morning, everyone searches the tree for the pickle and the person finding it receives a special gift. Santa always seems to know who will find the pickle, because the gift is age appropriate (how does he do that?).

What a wonderful day! We got half the day off from work, because of the holiday season. Even though there are very few Japanese Christians, many Japanese celebrate Christmas in a secular way. Also, it coincides nicely with their native end of the year celebrations, which are very important. Most offices close early, or all together, for Bonen Kai (end of the year parties). People take the last few weeks of the year and repay favors – this way they can start the year debt free. Everyone is out shopping for gifts, partying like mad and having a grand old time. Traffic is ten times worse (if that is even possible) with everyone visiting, shopping and stopping at the shrines. . It is also the time of year to shed bad luck. I got most of the last of my Christmas shopping done (stocking stuffers and such). I would have liked to get to the huge mall in Ebina, but I just ran out of time. I have some thoughts about Christmas and Gifts which I will mull over and write here later.

To top it off, last night my most loved one forgave my unpleasantness. We made up (hanky-panky and all). And, best of all, my beloved has assured me that Trouble has no place whatsoever in our lives.