What's Hinamatsuri? And White Day is the one that's like... Japanese reverse Valentine's Day or something, right?
[Sort... of? Not really?]
But okay: Easter and Christmas. They are both religious holidays in my world, or at least that's how they began. Lots of people still observe them for religious reasons but in modern times they have both become pretty commercialized so even people who aren't particularly religious still celebrate them. And since I am one of those people who isn't, and since Christianity doesn't even seem to be really relevant in this I won't really get into explaining that part of it.
The date of Easter changes every year, but it's always on a Sunday in either March or April. Like I said, this isn't really a specifically present-giving holiday but people will sometimes give their kids Easter baskets full of candy or small toys. And sometimes they will put candy in these little plastic eggs, [He approximates the size of an Easter egg with his hands.] and then hide the eggs outside. Typically in their yards, but it could be any relatively set and confined outdoor space. Like a park or something. Anyway, supposedly the Easter bunny is the one who hid the eggs and it's the kids' jobs to find them. It's a game that I imagine is probably more fun to play with a group instead of by yourself. So you can race to see who finds the most eggs. I wouldn't know though, since I was raised an only child and didn't really have any friends in my neighborhood. And don't ask me why it's a bunny I really just don't know what a bunny has to do with eggs.
And that's basically Easter in an eggshell.
Christmas, on the other hand, is celebrated on the 25th of December and that date never changes. However the "Christmas Season" typically lasts for weeks leading up to the actual day. It's sort of a family and friends centric holiday. Christmas Day one of the few days a year where schools are closed and nobody has to go to work, so people go out of their way to visit family members and friends that they normally wouldn't have the time to. What you all do together varies depending on your family, like my dad and I used to do a lot of baking together when I was little. [The gingerbread villages were quite the sight. (yes, villages. Dad Egbert didn't screw around with one dinky little gingerbread house, no sir.)]
And on the actual DAY of Christmas, you exchange gifts. Like Easter though, there's a kid-centric sort of tradition that goes along with this too. As you get older though, you realize it's not actually true. See there's this figure named Santa Claus, who is basically this jolly old fat guy in a red suit who lives in the North Pole. He spends all year monitoring children's behavior and if you are a good kid, he gives you presents. And if you are bad, he gives you a lump of coal. So basically it's like child bribery and really the presents come from your parents because Santa Claus isn't actually a real person, he's just kind of like... a figurehead I guess?
So yeah. Basically it's just a holiday to spend time with the people you care for and do nice things together and for each other. Make sense?
VIDEO
[Sort... of? Not really?]
But okay: Easter and Christmas. They are both religious holidays in my world, or at least that's how they began. Lots of people still observe them for religious reasons but in modern times they have both become pretty commercialized so even people who aren't particularly religious still celebrate them. And since I am one of those people who isn't, and since Christianity doesn't even seem to be really relevant in this I won't really get into explaining that part of it.
The date of Easter changes every year, but it's always on a Sunday in either March or April. Like I said, this isn't really a specifically present-giving holiday but people will sometimes give their kids Easter baskets full of candy or small toys. And sometimes they will put candy in these little plastic eggs, [He approximates the size of an Easter egg with his hands.] and then hide the eggs outside. Typically in their yards, but it could be any relatively set and confined outdoor space. Like a park or something. Anyway, supposedly the Easter bunny is the one who hid the eggs and it's the kids' jobs to find them. It's a game that I imagine is probably more fun to play with a group instead of by yourself. So you can race to see who finds the most eggs. I wouldn't know though, since I was raised an only child and didn't really have any friends in my neighborhood. And don't ask me why it's a bunny I really just don't know what a bunny has to do with eggs.
And that's basically Easter in an eggshell.
Christmas, on the other hand, is celebrated on the 25th of December and that date never changes. However the "Christmas Season" typically lasts for weeks leading up to the actual day. It's sort of a family and friends centric holiday. Christmas Day one of the few days a year where schools are closed and nobody has to go to work, so people go out of their way to visit family members and friends that they normally wouldn't have the time to. What you all do together varies depending on your family, like my dad and I used to do a lot of baking together when I was little. [The gingerbread villages were quite the sight. (yes, villages. Dad Egbert didn't screw around with one dinky little gingerbread house, no sir.)]
And on the actual DAY of Christmas, you exchange gifts. Like Easter though, there's a kid-centric sort of tradition that goes along with this too. As you get older though, you realize it's not actually true. See there's this figure named Santa Claus, who is basically this jolly old fat guy in a red suit who lives in the North Pole. He spends all year monitoring children's behavior and if you are a good kid, he gives you presents. And if you are bad, he gives you a lump of coal. So basically it's like child bribery and really the presents come from your parents because Santa Claus isn't actually a real person, he's just kind of like... a figurehead I guess?
So yeah. Basically it's just a holiday to spend time with the people you care for and do nice things together and for each other. Make sense?