Easter Bloopers(PART 2 OF 3)
I like your Easter outfit.
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Oh, do you? I'm glad you like it.
So you were quite busy during the Holy Week in the above outfit, eh?
You're telling me, Kato. By the way, do the Japanese cerebrate Easter?
I doubt. When I was a kid in Japan, nobody even heard of Easter---except, perhaps, a small number of Christians.
Easter celebrations
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Many Americans follow the tradition of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving baskets of candy.
The Easter Bunny is a popular legendary anthropomorphic Easter gift-giving character analogous to Santa Claus in American culture.
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On Easter Monday, the President of the United States holds an annual Easter egg roll on the White House lawn for young children.
New York City holds an annual Easter parade on Easter Sunday.
In some countries where Christianity is a state religion, or where the country has large Christian population, Easter is a public holiday.
Some European and other countries in the world also have Easter Monday as a public holiday.
In Canada, both Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are public holidays.
In province of Quebec, either Good Friday or Easter Monday (although most companies give both) are statutory holidays.
Two days before Easter Sunday, on Good Friday, is a public holiday as well.
In Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, both Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are public holidays.
It is a holiday for most workers except some shopping malls which keep open for half day.
Many businesses give their employees almost a week off called Easter break.
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SOURCE:"Easter"
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
But Kato, the Japanese cerebrate Christman, right?
Yes, you're darn right. But I'd say, it has someting to do with commercialism---just like Vatentine Day, you know. The Japanese businessmen simplly take advantage of the Western customs to make a profit.
So, the Japanese businessmen haven't taken advantage of Easter yet, have they?
No, as far as I know, most of the Japanese are not particularily interested in Easter.
Why not?
Well... You see, Diane, Easter is a moveable feast, isn't it?
Yes, that's right. The date is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. In 325, the First Council of Nicaea established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the March equinox.
Gee... Diane, you're quite knowledgeable.
Thank you... I'm a devoted Christian, you know.
For the Japanese, the March equinox is even more important than Easter.
Why is that?
Well ... the March equinox or Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日) is a public holiday in Japan.
Oh, really?
As you know, the vernal equinox can occur on different dates in different timezones. The Vernal Equinox occurs on the date of the Northward equinox in Japan Standard Time, usually March 20 or 21. But the date of the holiday is not officially declared until February of the previous year, due to the need for recent astronomical measurements.
So the Japanese have been traditionally enjoying a public holidy on the March equinox day.
Actually, Vernal Equinox Day became a public holiday in 1948. Prior to that it was the date of Shunki kōreisai (春季皇霊祭), which was an event relating to Shintoism. Like other Japanese holidays, this holiday was repackaged as a non-religious holiday for the sake of separation of religion and state in Japan's postwar constitution.
Interesting!
Diane, do you know that some people believe Easter is 100% concentrated paganism?
Why is that?
Well ... they say, the Easter egg, the Easter bunny, and the Easter Sunrise Mass have the filthy origins.
Oh...? I've never heard of those filthy origins.
Here's an interesting Easter History, which your pastor doesn't want you to know.
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Kato, how dare you present those video clips!? I don't like those filthy theories!
I thought you were open-minded.
Yes, I'm still open-minded but ...
But what?
Well ... in any case, what are those "Easter Bloopers"?
Good question! Watch the following funny clip:
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【Himiko's Monologue】
Well ... It's funny, isn't it?
As a matter of fact, I enjoy Easter myself because I love Easter eggs.
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I also love the Easter bunny.
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Besides, I always enjoy weraing my Easter outfit.
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In any case, I hope Kato will write another interesting article soon.
So please come back to see me.
Have a nice day!
Bye bye ...
(To be followed)