I mentioned in my Christmas post that most people in Japan celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. We often hold a party with family or with friends (normally one of the two, not family & friends together). If a person has a loved one, then they almost always go out together on a date on Christmas Eve. Most places like hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, bars, are packed with couples. Many places offer a special dinner/event that is much more expensive than usual price, but still sells out quickly. There is a phrase, Christmas Bocchi, that means being alone on Christmas Eve. Some people feel embarrassed to be “Christmas Bocchi”, and they try hard to find a partner by Christmas Eve. On the other hand, some local restaurants and bars make a special effort to welcome “Christmas Bocchi” by having a sign up saying “the regulars & singles only on Christmas Eve”. lol
