A TV interviewer was filming in downtown Tokyo at Christmas time. Much as in the UK, Christmas shopping is a big commercial success in Japan. The interviewer stopped one young woman on the street and asked, “What is the meaning of Christmas?” Laughing, she responded, “I don’t know. Is that the day that Jesus died?” In a sense there is a profound truth to her answer. Commercialism often tries to bring the death of Christ at Christmas. And if you cross Christ out of Christmas what do you get? Xmas!

Source: Donald Deffner, Seasonal Illustrations, San Jose: Resource, 1992, p.16