Christmas Chicken

[keatonatron]

This is one Japanese tradition that I have a hard time understanding.

Today I walked by KFC, and there was a huge line down to the end of the street of people waiting to buy their fried chicken for Christmas; all of them, by the way, had reserved their chicken in advance. In the window of KFC there were boxes of fried chicken LITERALLY pilled to the ceiling waiting to be distributed.

For the past few days, convenience stores have been having big specials on their convenience-store brand fried chicken (think "7-11 hot dog"), and it's the only item that they allow you to reserve in preparation for the holidays. Many convenience stores set up special tables outside on the sidewalk for the sole purpose of selling fried chicken.

Even Lotteria had a stand set up in the train station by my house (actually IN the station!) selling fried chicken.

So, what's the deal with everyone needing fried chicken for Christmas? I do know some people think we eat chicken instead of turkey on thanksgiving... maybe everyone saw the images of the grand Christmas goose and thought it was one big not-yet-fried chicken?

By the way, there is also a pretty strong tradition of al Christmas cake that seems just as 当たり前 to Christmas as birthday cakes do to birthdays. But the cakes aren't nearly as advertised as the chicken.

[everdream]

"At home, the kinds of Christmas dinner dishes change slightly year-by-year, but usually roast chicken or fried chicken and a Christmas cake are included. In fact, KFC restaurants around Japan get very busy on Christmas Eve. Instead of cooking a whole chicken, cooking chicken thigh is common in Japan. Lately, pizza has also become a popular food to eat on the Christmas Eve."
Japanese Christmas Lunch

[Shirasagi]

It pisses me off, because invariably I'll have a taste for fried chicken, then remember it's impossible to get. Just today it slipped my mind that it was Christmas Eve, went to the KFC at the local AEON, and had to face a long line and no regular ordering for another two hours. And I just think, "Why?! Why must everybody eat Kentucky Fried Chicken of all things for Christmas dinner?"

[Orcrist]

The exotic Far East, people stuffing their face with KFC on Christmas Eve.. *sigh*

[Kagemaru]

I've yet to figure out on all aspects the meaning of Christmas to Japanese people....

[Shirasagi]

Kagemaru wrote:
I've yet to figure out on all aspects the meaning of Christmas to Japanese people....

Basically, toys, sales, chicken, and sex.

[prep_girl_Nessa]

Shirasagi wrote:

Kagemaru wrote:
I've yet to figure out on all aspects the meaning of Christmas to Japanese people....

Basically, toys, sales, chicken, and sex.

Dude, I'm down for that. I'm totally moving to Japan just for Christmas next year!

(Just kidding, obviously xD)

[AJBryant]

Very clever marketing on the part of KFC Japan. Christmas turkey easily converts to another bird...


Tony

[tanuki]

Shirasagi wrote:

Kagemaru wrote:
I've yet to figure out on all aspects the meaning of Christmas to Japanese people....

Basically, toys, sales, chicken, and sex.

Sex?

[Orcrist]

tanuki wrote:

Shirasagi wrote:

Kagemaru wrote:
I've yet to figure out on all aspects the meaning of Christmas to Japanese people....

Basically, toys, sales, chicken, and sex.

Sex?

It's considered more of a "couple holiday", so I can see sex being one of the main aspects of a Japanese christmas.

Not that I have any problems with the Japanese interpretation of christmas, that's all there is to it anyway. To me christmas is nothing more than "decorate a tree and eat turkey with the whole family day". I just wish they had some Japanese exotic midwinter fest that would beat the crap out of the christmas atmosphere, rather than having them adopt the christmas atmosphere whilst eating fastfood.

[doinkies]

New Year's is traditionally considered more of a family holiday than Christmas.

[Mike Cash]

I had a guy at work ask me about a week ago about Christmas, wondering if I was looking forward to my Christmas KFC.

He seemed sort of shocked when I told him that eating KFC at Christmas was a strictly Japanese thing and a brilliant marketing job. That and Christmas cakes.

And for young single females not having a date to take you to a hotel and bang you on Christmas Eve is sort of the equivalent of an American girl not having a date for the prom.

[Orcrist]

doinkies wrote:
New Year's is traditionally considered more of a family holiday than Christmas.

Now that you mention it, New Year's celebration is Japan's kickass midwinter fest of course. Completely forgot about it, so people can ignore my previous post.

[Harisenbon]

Mike Cash wrote:
And for young single females not having a date to take you to a hotel and bang you on Christmas Eve is sort of the equivalent of an American girl not having a date for the prom.

And the worst thing the guy can do on the Christmas date is not book the Love Hotel room in advance, and end up driving around looking for vacancy.

For Christmas night and Eve, hotels usually fill up a month or so in advance. :/

[BrianM]

I love KFC, haven't had it in years but it was good. Although it's probably the same as in Portugal, they have some KFC's there......although i don't know if they eat it for x-mas.