Do you celebrate the "traditional" holidays?

[DoctorP]

For those of you who have decided to live here in Okinawa, do you still celebrate the holidays as you would in the US?

Do you BBQ on July 4th, Party or head to the beach on Memorial Day, cook a huge honkin' Turkey for Thanksgiving, decorate big for Christmas, etc...

Or do you just treat it as any other day?

[Oki alumni]

Not being on Okinawa, but nonetheless in Japan, I still celebrate MOST of 'em. Yup...Thanksgiving, Christmas, yada yada yada. My "kids" are all grown up, and most of 'em are Japanese Nationals, and still have to work most of the days, unless a Japanese holiday happens to coincide with one of 'em. Mostly "tradition" for this ol' man...a legacy from my folks who've "gone on", and a large amount of respect for THEIR up bringing of me.

My other "US-ian" kids back in Wisconsin of course, celebrate those days too.

-Oki Alumni

[DocTurtle]

Ummm...I'm stationed here...does this thread apply?

[DoctorP]

Ummm...I'm stationed here...does this thread apply?

yes, but those who are only stationed here usually (IMO) still stick to the trends they are used to from the States. People who have lived here for a longer term, may drop traditional celebrations more easily. Please contribute, didn't mean to leave you out.

[Jazz]

Due to my detachment from American society on Okinawa American holidays are treated by me like a regular day off, except on Thanksgiving, the wife and I usually make the Turkey and all the trimmings. On Christmas we exchange gifts, and have a tree but treat it more like the Japanese do - as a romantic holiday. We go on a nice date to a fancy restaurant on Christmas.

[Bones]

Our kids are adults, older than most of the young posters out there. So we don't celebrate Christmas, by decking the halls with......

On Thanksgiving, we'll usually cook up a big bird. And as far as firing up the grill is concerned, we don't need a reason. This is Okinawa. And we fire it up whenever we want.

The two most important holidays for me are Veteran's Day, as well Memorial Day. Back in the states, I always made it a point to help out with activities that honored the men, and women, who are currently serving our country. Also helped to clean up the cemetery plots in our community, that contained the bodies of the men and women who served before us.

But like some others out there, I tend to treat the rest of the holidays as just another day off.

Bones

[hankypanky]

I'm an entertainer, so I work all holidays. The only days I take off is 1 day during obon and 2 days for new years, after the 1st of course!:smile4:

[DoctorP]

I'm an entertainer

And one hell of a topless dancer you are Hank! :thumbup:

[hankypanky]

In the spirit of a famous guru, "Blow Me"!

[socalheart]

As a kid over here, my family celebrated Christmas for the presents... mine mostly. I didn't pay attention to the rest of them, unless they got me out of school. As an adult over here, I spend Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day with the family. We're not either way about Easter right now. Valentine's day is a couples' thing including a ridiculously extravagent dinner that we can't possibly stuff in, chocolates that get half eaten and flowers that die sooner than later. We don't go out of our way to celebrate the rest of the US holidays, but enjoy a good bbq or meal to enjoy the holiday when the urge strikes.

[Trail]

Since service members are included, no. We do not celebrate in the same ways as many service members here or those back home. Some of our holidays tend to be untraditional since it's just the two of us. For example, last 4th we went to the aquarium vs. having a cook out. The 4th happen to fall on a weekday last year I believe and the crowds there we minimal. It was very pleasant and memorable. Thanksgiving was traditional for us last year but probably will not be this year since the neighbors we celebrated with will be gone and we will have a 2 month old baby. I have a feeling I will not be up to cooking like I normally do. Christmas was also rather uneventful. We had brunch and opened presents that morning. Nothing huge or riddled with tradition.

To sum up my rambling, We have ditched many of the family tradition since we are away from our families. In some rights we miss them whole heartedly but on the same token, it's nice to do something entirely different for a change.