I really enjoy Shogatsu in Japan, and I also enjoy Christmas, though Christmas here in Japan is very different from Christmas in England, where I was born and grew up. Let me explain some of the differences.
◎ 1. In Britain, nobody works on Dec. 25, 26 and 27 (except for nurses, doctors, policemen, etc.), and many people have eight or nine days holiday, from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2 or 3. All shops and restaurants are closed on Dec. 25, 26 and 27. There are no trains or buses, and there are very few cars on the roads. City centres are like ghost towns.
◎ 2. Most British people spend Christmas at home with their family, or they visit their relatives.
◎ 3. Most British people go to church on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, and they sing beautiful songs about the birth of Jesus Christ and listen to stories in the Bible about his birth. Everybody knows that Christmas is a festival which celebrates the birth of Jesus, even
though they may not be very interested in Christianity.
◎ 4. Many British people give money to poor people at Christmas, because they feel happy and kind at Christmas, and they believe that Christmas is a time for giving. Some people sing carols (Christmas songs) in
public places or outside people's houses, and they collect money for poor people from the people who listen to them.
◎ 5. On Christmas Day, most British people eat roast turkey with roast potatoes, vegetables and several kinds of sauce, followed by Christmas Pudding, which is a very rich, heavy, steamed fruit cake made of flour, eggs, sugar, raisins, currants, spices, brandy, etc. This pudding is usually made at least a month before Christmas.
As you can see, Christmas in Britain is very different from Christmas in Japan, but I enjoy Christmas in both countries.