Christmas - Meanings and Celebrations with question marks

Here in Japan, Christmas is not a public holiday that is opposed to the Western world. And how we celebrate is totally different to the Western countries. Only families with young children have home parties and couples have a Christmas meals and spend a night at a hotel on Christmas Eve - see more details on my old Footy Almanac post here.

But Christmas songs are played at many places and decorations are done at shopping malls and on sreets, even in front of houses.

My question mark comes - why so many Christmas stuffs are around here, even Japanese people celebrate not in the way how Westerners do (spend the day with family)?

I tried to find an answer today but the attempt was unsuccessful. Some online articles in Japanese language about the Christmas history were found, but no reason why *they spend in such ways was indicated.
* I used they instead we because my thoughts and values are closer to western ones ratther than Japanese ones.

Christmas celebration started again in the Meiji era (1867-1911). And it got bigger in the post WW II.

However it was much commercialised. KFC Japan promoted their deep fried chicken wings for dinners on Christmas Eve. Sponged cakes were on sale as their bakeries and pastries' promotions. Exchanging Christmas presents became the trend influenced by retailers.

It's really sad Japanese people ignored the true meaning of Christmas and created sentiments for singleton including me. I admit I am not a fan of Japanese Christmas. I much prefer western Christmas and am sad that I will be in Kyoto on 25 December. I wish I could be in Melbourne.

Such an important occasion should have been adopted here in Japan with respecting Christians and the meanings, I think.

On further research, I found the Christmas was the time to think about others including those we have never met.

I wish you all the best and Merry Christmas to you, even it's early to say. And thanks for reading my blogs this year here, on the Footy Almanac and on the old Kyo Sensational Blog.