Lights
What do you make of displays like these?
Pantos
Say ‘panto’ and ‘mericans will probably think you mean mime. It’s a UK tradition that hasn’t made its way across the pond. But if you explain that you’re homesick and ask your friends nicely, they may humour you and join in performing one. It’s a genre that seems to transfer well across the pond to me. (Oh no it doesn’t, Oh yes it does)
TV
‘The Great Escape’ seems noticeably absent from the TV channels. (Phew!) Expect many renditions of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ instead. (Argh!)
Other entertainments
The Nutcracker at the ballet seems to be the quintessentially holiday show here. And if you’re in or near NYC, do try to get to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show once in your life for a truly cross cultural experience. The Roxettes are reminiscent of the Tiller girls, but there are more of them.
Time off
Boxing Day is unknown. Don’t let the word ‘holidays’ fool you into thinking ‘mericans take time off work. Things shut down on Christmas day, but that’s about it. Folks will be back to work on the 26th.
Happy holidays
Wishing y’all (everywhere in the world) happy holidays/Christmas.
Hey Viki, it was great to meet you this year, happy holichristmasdays.
BTW that picture of the radio City show looks astonishingly close to a panto.
Why yes, the front row in that photo looks like it could be a curtain call for Aladdin or something.
I remember thinking I might be watching something a bit like a panto but with the addition of the Tiller girls in parts of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas perfomance.
But there were some pretty sentimental episodes too, and a nativity scene, (that I think might be very traditional) that was more of a ‘tableaux’ experience. I can’t imagine it ever being performed on a London stage.
And speaking of Tiller girls, I saw a wonderful show in Asakasa in Tokyo once where there were over a hundred dancers kicking, and the guys were played by girls. Japanese visitors, is that show still running?
I like the great escape AND it’s a wonderful life. But no boxing day? That’s crazy! (Says the man in Japan who is going to get his swine flu vaccination on Christmas day….)
Here’s hoping the jab didn’t hurt. In case you’d like to see a little of the Great Escape again, merry Christmas, Darren:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwmIDx9RwQ
Vicki, it sounds like you may be thinking of a Takarazuka performance. 🙂
https://kageki.hankyu.co.jp/english/first/nennkan.html
By the way, I’m adding you to my blogroll if you don’t mind–I think under the “linguistics” category! Great stuff. 🙂
Oh Clarissa, welcome and thank you so much for that link. That’s the one!
It’s great to see it’s still running. Wow, a trip down memory lane. Here’s what I remember:
Not understanding a word it not mattering at all
Spectacle after spectacle
Long long row of leg kicks, and every leg a short one
Flowers from the audience for the stars
Many thanks for adding me to your blogroll. I shall do likewise!
Sounds fun! Yeah, the Takarazuka Revue has been around for decades and decades. I’d love to see them one of these days, next time I’m in Japan.
Thanks for adding me. 🙂
Just discovered a posting about Takarazuka on ‘Japan Explained’: http://japanexplained.wordpress.com/gaijin-explained/ http://japanexplained.wordpress.com/?s=takarazuka