Hello!

This is a HushTug Hariuner.

Christmas is almost here.
Have you decided on a gift for your loved one yet?

We had several people choose HushTug products as Christmas gifts. Thank you!

I hope the person who receives the gift will be happy.

Christmas is not very common in Mongolia and there is no custom of celebrating it.
When I was studying abroad in Japan, I experienced Christmas parties and gift exchanges with friends for the first time.

I remember it was a lot of fun.

Once Christmas is over, it's already the end of the year.
A year goes by so quickly.

In Japan, the end of the year brings to mind images of year-end parties, spring cleaning, and New Year's Eve.
The end of the year in Mongolia is a little different from Japan.

This time, I would like to introduce how Mongolians spend the end of the year.

Is the end of the year like Christmas in Mongolia?

In Mongolia, Christmas trees are decorated during New Year's.

For this reason, Japanese people are often surprised when they see it and ask, "Christmas?"

This is because Mongolia is strongly influenced by Russian culture, and Russia also decorates Christmas trees during New Year's!

Mongolian Christmas Tree

In Japan, the impression that Christmas trees are something to be placed in the home is strong, but
In Mongolia, most companies decorate their workplaces with Christmas trees.

Of course, we also display them at home to make our children happy.

This is what my Christmas tree looks like!

In Japan, people decorate Christmas trees with a variety of decorations, such as bells, gift boxes, and snowman ornaments.

In Mongolia, we also decorate Christmas trees with various things, but what is different from Japan is that in Mongolia, money is placed on the tree. Guests who come to the house also place money on the tree.

The money placed on the tree is meant to be given to children, and I think it's similar to the feeling of otoshidama in Japan.

Gifts for Children

When we hear the word Christmas, we imagine giving presents to couples, friends, and family, but in Mongolia, presents are only given to children.
The presents are always sweets, and I give them not only to my own children but also to my relatives' children.

It's kind of like Halloween

The gifts of sweets I prepared for my relatives' children look like this.

The company also gives presents to employees' children.
By the way, HushTug also gave a small gift to the craftsmen's children.

Mongolian year-end party

The year-end party I experienced in Japan was when I went to a restaurant with people from my company and we ate and drank.
In Mongolian companies, year-end parties involve eating and drinking of course, but they also have a stronger sense of being an event, so everyone wears suits or dresses.
They also sing, dance, play games and have a great time until late into the night.

This is a big event that allows us to talk about the good and bad things that happened this year and build momentum for further growth next year.

Last year, I had a Japanese-style end-of-year party dinner with several Japanese colleagues.
At that time, the Japanese staff were dressed casually and Toda-san was in a tracksuit! lol

I remember being surprised at the cultural differences as the people on the Mongolian side were wearing quite flashy clothing, like the dress in the photo.

This year we had a Mongolian-style end-of-year party.
Since it was a Mongolian style shoot, I had Toda-san wear a suit instead of a tracksuit! lol

This year's HushTug year-end party was a huge success and I'm glad we all had a great time!

Mongolian New Year

New Year's Eve in Mongolia occurs on the evening of December 31st, just like in Japan.
When it hits midnight, everyone counts down and gets excited. Most families eat a meal and cake together.

It's customary to toast with sparkling wine on New Year's Eve.

Most people spend New Year's Eve with their families, but some people spend New Year's Eve with friends or as a couple.

Just before the New Year, the Mongolian president will give a speech on television to address the nation (talking about the successes and failures of the year), after which the countdown begins and everyone drinks a toast. → Russia is like this, too, and then fireworks are set off at Chinggis Square in the center of Ulaanbaatar to welcome in the new year.

Unlike the quiet New Year's Eve in Japan, it is more like a festival and is very lively.

How was it?

This time, as Christmas and New Year's Eve are approaching, we introduced how people in Mongolia spend the end of the year.

I think you were surprised at how different the way people spend their time is to Japan.
I like New Year's Eve in Japan, but I still love the grand and exciting celebrations in Mongolia.

Hey! I'm looking forward to this year's New Year.
Merry Christmas

Thank you for reading to the end.

HushTug
Hariuna