No grammar today.

If you're a total nerd and you want to study basic grammar (because it's Sunday), go study these or something:

[NDL #321] - Basics: は, No は, & ですか
[NDL #328] - Basics: こ、そ、あ
[NDL #335] - Basics: 1-Word Sentences
[NDL #342] - Basics: Katakana with i-adjectives
[NDL #349] - Basics: Katakana with i-adjectives, Part II

Why no grammar?

Well, because...

メリークリスマス！

And if you can't read that, then you really, really, really need to go do the free kana course already.

In the spirit of the holidays, let's take it easy today and look at some Japanese greetings.

We've already seen "Merry Christmas," as above. Generally speaking, Christmas is 16,000 times cooler in the US than in Japan, where it tends to be more of a couples holiday (and almost everyone still works).

But at the very least, the stores are all decorated, and you don't have to opt for saying "Happy Holidays" to avoid offending someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. Because unlike in America, where Christmas is about presents... err, I mean, the birth of Jesus... in Japan it's mostly about...

Uh... what is it about?

Well, I know that a lot of people eat Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas in Japan.

No, I'm not joking:

さあ、最高のクリスマスを。
さあ、 さいこう　の　クリスマス　を。
Well then, let's make this the best Christmas!
Literally: "well, + best + の + Christmas + を."
Note: The を gives the nuance that there is an unspoken clause/verb following... something about eating chicken and having good times, presumably.

A lot of Japanese people appear to be under the impression that getting down on fried chicken is something done in other countries on Christmas as well. At least, I've fielded a lot of questions along those lines from students in the past, and I've read a few fun blog posts with titles like, "KFC Christmas Chicken is only eaten in Japan?!"

If you do have a hot date on Christmas night with someone, though, then you should probably splurge on a クリスマスケーキ, which is right up there with KFC on the holiday must-have list:

Speaking of cakes in Japan, they are twenty times more delicious than 99% of the cakes I've had in the US. (What gives, America? Get it together!)

The other year, one of Rei's mom's friends bought me one of these $30+ cakes from Takano:

It was, unequivocally, the best cake I've ever eaten. I still dream about it.

(Note: Don't go buying $30 cakes in Japan now and blaming me if you don't like them... they probably taste better if you have no expectations. In other words, I've already ruined it for you. I'm sorry.)

Speaking of birthdays, let's get down on some learning!

How do we say "Happy Birthday" in Japanese?

Well, if you're feeling really classy, you'd probably go with...

お誕生日おめでとうございます。
おたんじょうび　おめでとう　ございます。
Happy birthday!
Literally: "birthday + congratulations."

If you really hate learning new words, though, you can just rely on your trusty katakana skills:

ハッピーバースデー！

Which reminds me, in Japan you often come across people saying "Happy Wedding!"

ハッピーウェディング

I don't know why, but this always makes me chuckle a bit... although I also have trouble explaining to Japanese people why this sounds strange to me.

In any case, look at these amazing "Happy Wedding Campaigns!"

Note: Here, キャンペーン, "campaign," is referring to a type of sale.

Now, we just spent the last few minutes talking about fried chicken and cake.

But if anyone asks, we were studying Japanese, OK?

Enjoy the holidays! I really hope you don't have work today. ^^