Traditions

by Paula Gail Benson

Aoutrow 24-Day Advent Calendar
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Mom always prepared the wooden Advent calendar, placing unique treats in each drawer.

In the spring, celebrating twenty-five married years, Pop gave Mom a new engagement ring. She removed the original and told me. “Joe, this is for your bride.”

I said, “Keep it for me.”

We lost Mom unexpectedly. Auto accident. With Sheila beside me, I watched Mom’s remains guided into the mausoleum vault.

The holidays approached. Important little things went undone. Regretfully, I lifted the empty Advent calendar, not having the heart to fill it until I heard something rattle in drawer 24. Mom’s engagement ring for Sheila.

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This 100 word story is offered as an entry for the annual Advent Ghosts event hosted by Loren Eaton at I Saw Lightning Fall. See the other entries there. Thanks, Loren, for the opportunity! 

Colonel Sanders and Santa?

by Paula Gail Benson

In the 1970s, Takeshi Okawara, who managed Japan’s first KFC, began the “Kentucky for Christmas” campaign after visiting an elementary school dressed as Santa. He realized that Japan did not have established family cultural traditions for celebrating Christmas. In addition, fried chicken is similar to the popular dish of karaage, panko-breaded, deep-fried chicken or fish. Some think chicken also might have been a good substitute for turkey that was not as accessible and drier in taste. KFC offered its Japanese customers a “party barrel” which included chicken, cole slaw, and cake. Although alternatives now exist, KFC remains a holiday favorite.

CNN Travel Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images

 

Japanese Christmas Traditions

by Paula Gail Benson

Hoteiosho with good luck fan

Japanese children call the western figure “Santa San” or “Mr. Santa.” With few chimneys for him to enter, they consider him a ghostly presence bringing treats. KFC fried chicken is a preferred Christmastime meal, and often must be pre-ordered to meet the demand. A large, smiling Buddhist figure, Hoteiosho, referred to as a monk and one of the seven good fortune gods, is a gift giver associated with happiness. His name means cloth bag and he is never without his sack, which contains life’s good things. With eyes in front and in back of his head, he observes children’s behavior.