日本に馴染みのある「ハロウィン」「クリスマス」「イースター」の３つの祭事について、各国ではどのように行われているのか日本との比較を行うべく、国際学部 学生広報委員がGSEの先生方にインタビューを行いました。このインタビューは学生広報委員の１年生、外門愛里菜さん、福村愛結さんが企画立案し、実現したものです。

今回はオーストラリアご出身のマーク先生に英語でインタビューを行いましたので、その模様をお届けします！また、インタビューで感じた文化の違いについて感想もいただきましたので、合わせてご覧ください。

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左から　　外門さん、福村さん、マーク先生

※撮影時のみマスクを外しています。

【Halloween Questions】

Q. What is Halloween is like for Australia?

　Halloween is not so big in Australia. Some people do some activities but not so much, not like America.

Q. Are there any differences between Halloween in Japan and Australia?

　In Australia, maybe some young people, like college students have a party, and dress up in Halloween costumes. Some families with children may also have a costume Halloween party, and do some trick or treating, but it’s not so common. There is not as much marketing of Halloween products by companies.

Q. In Japan, many young people gather in Shibuya dressed up for Halloween. What do you think about that?

　I think that it’s a very fun thing to do. I was amazed to see the detailed costumes some people make. Such amazing costumes take so much trouble, with hours and hours to make them. Some people wear cosplay outfits, so it’s very interesting and very exciting. Even some Kyoritsu students have been to the Shibuya Halloween party in the past, so they wore some costumes. But of course, sometimes in Shibuya there have been problems with rowdy crowd behavior, and some people drinking too much. For example, a few years ago, they turned over a car, and police arrested some of them. So, if any Kyoritsu students do attend this year, please behave!

Q. What are you most proud of on Halloween in Australia?

　I am proud that Halloween is not too big. Because it’s very American traditional culture. So, most people in Australia say we don’t want to be too like America, but a little bit is OK. It shows a resistance to not being too dominated by American culture.

Q. When you were a student did you dress up and go to school on Halloween?

　No! That’s difference with America. When I was in elementary school, we did hold a small party, but the costumes didn’t turn out so well. I was just wearing a sheet, like a ghost. When I was a university student, I went to a couple of Halloween parties, but the costumes were very basic and not very good at all!

Q. I spend Halloween day with friends rather than family. Do you spend it with family or with friends in Australia?

　Usually, young people spend time with their friends, like maybe college students having their parties. If they go to a Halloween party, it will either be at a bar or at a friend’s house. Some families with children have small Halloween events, but it is not so common. I remember one time when I was a child, we tried to make a Jack-o’-Lantern pumpkin. My father tried to make it from a big pumpkin, but it soon was rotten and smelly. However, my mother was happy to be able to cook some pumpkin dishes. We never tried it again!

Q. How are houses and towns decorated on Halloween?

　You know, in Australia at Halloween, you don’t really see it. Some department stores and supermarkets might have a few decorations, to promote some chocolate and other sweets, but otherwise decorations are not so commonly seen.

Q. Is there a culture of handing out treats and what kind of treats do you give out?

　There is not really a culture of handing out treats for Halloween in Australia. Some families might give out chocolate to children, but it is not a common custom.

～Students' impressions～

　I thought Halloween overseas was a big event like America. For example, I thought that on Halloween day, everyone would dress up and go around the neighborhood to get sweets, or do it in any country. However, when we actually interviewed Professor Mark from Australia, I realized that it was our prejudice that we had never lived in that country for a long time, and before I knew it, we thought like overseas = America.

【Christmas Questions】

Q. Does everyone have a Christmas Tree? Do you go out and buy one every year?

　Most people have a Christmas Tree. Most people buy a plastic tree from a department store. Some people buy a real Christmas Tree. But my family lived in the countryside, near a forest. My father chopped down a real tree each year. Then, we covered it with decorations and Christmas lights, and put presents under the tree to open on Christmas Day.

Q. Who does you spend Christmas Eve with, and what do you do? 

　Most people spend Christmas Eve with their families, watching special Christmas TV programs, such as Carol services, and movies like Home Alone. It is not a “date night”, like Japan! Some families leave out a plate of Christmas cake and a glass of beer as a snack for Santa Claus when he ‘visits’ to leave presents for the children, which of course the parents eat and drink when the children have gone to bed!

Q. Who does you spend Christmas Day with and what do you do? 

　People in Australia spend Christmas day with their families, and usually have a large lunch, and exchange presents. Since it is summertime in Australia at Christmas, many people go to the beach.

Q. Do any of these foods have a special Christmas meal? 

　Many families follow the British tradition of having a large roast meal such as roast pork, or turkey for Christmas lunch, with roast potatoes and gravy. Lots of people also eat seafood and have BBQ parties. Christmas pudding , which is also a kind of fruit and nut cake, but a bit softer, is usually served with custard and brandy cream.

Q. Christmas Mass is not often held in Japan. Do many people in Australia go to Christmas Mass? 

　Many people attend church services in Australia on Christmas Day, to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. It is also a public holiday, unlike Japan.

～Students' impression～

　Christmas turned out to be an important event for Australia. Australia, like Japan, eats cake at Christmas, but strawberry shortcakes are not the standard, they eat custard pudding with fruit and nuts. We were able to reconfirm in this interview that Christmas is a global event.

【Easter Questions】

Q. What do you enjoy most about Easter?

　In Australia, the Easter week has a series of public holidays, so it is the first major holiday break of the year for most people, after the summer holidays. It’s similar to “Golden Week” in Japan.

Q. In Japan, Easter is only celebrated in Christian schools, how about in Australia?

　All schools are on holiday for the Easter break in Australia, since it is a public holiday.

Q. What is usually painted on Easter eggs?

　Some children paint hard-boiled eggs with bright colors and patterns, which I remember doing one Easter at elementary school (which was long ago).

Q. Do you celebrate Easter with friends or with family in Australia? 

　Most people spend time with their families at Easter, usually going on a vacation, although most hotels, highways and airports are very crowded.

　In Sydney, where I used to live, the Royal Easter Show is held. It is a big agriculture fair, where city people can see many farm animals, but they also have a big amusement park with lots of rides and events.

Q. What do you want to do Easter in Japan?

　I would like to see the Easter parade at Disneyland one day!

Q. How do you celebrate at Easter? 

　Easter is the major Christian festival to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, so many people attend church services on Easter Sunday. Many families leave chocolate Easter eggs overnight for children to find in the morning, as a present from the “Easter bunny”!

Q. Is there anything to eat at Easter? 

　Lots of chocolate, especially chocolate Easter eggs! Also, ‘hot cross buns’, which are sweet bread rolls with a cross pattern on the top.

～Students' impressions～

　Easter is not a big event in Japan like Halloween or Christmas, and I think most of the people who know what kind of event it i