[For Seniors] Introducing Trivia Quizzes and Fun Facts About December

neck

The neck contains major blood vessels and plays an important role in regulating body temperature. Keeping your neck warm helps your whole body warm up more easily, making it effective for preventing colds. Warming other areas that include the word “kubi” (neck), such as the wrists and ankles, can further enhance the effect.

Finland

The place widely said to be Santa Claus’s home is Finland in Northern Europe. In particular, the town of Rovaniemi in the Lapland region is famous as the Santa Claus Village, and letters arrive there from all over the world. Located within the Arctic Circle, with snowy, cold winters, it perfectly fits the image of Santa Claus. In recent years, Canada and Greenland have also been mentioned as candidates, but Finland is the only country with an official Santa Claus Village.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Christmas is the day in Christianity that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is observed on December 25 every year and was originally a religious event. Jesus Christ is the founder of Christianity, and his birth is regarded as a momentous event for people. Today, regardless of religion, it is widely enjoyed in many countries as a time for exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, and spending time with family, but its origin lies in the birth of Jesus Christ.

108 times

Joya no Kane is one of Japan’s traditional year-end customs, in which temple bells are typically rung 108 times. The number 108 is said to represent the human worldly desires, and with each toll of the bell, one is believed to cast off these desires and welcome the New Year with a pure heart. Hearing the bell’s sound brings a sense of calm, letting people feel both the year’s end and a new beginning—an expression of Japan’s uniquely warm culture.

I hope next year will be a good year.

“Yoi otoshi o” is typically used at the end of the year and carries the meaning of wishing that the coming year will be a good one; it’s a shortened form of “Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai” (Please welcome a good new year). Its origin dates back to the Edo period. At that time, it was common to buy goods or eat out on credit. People would say “Yoi otoshi o” with the hope of settling their tabs before the New Year and welcoming the new year with a clean slate.

December 12

The “Kanji of the Year” is a single character that symbolizes the year, selected through a nationwide public poll conducted by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation since 1995, and announced each year on December 12 at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. This date is designated as “Kanji Day,” based on a wordplay reading of 12-12 as “ii ji ichiji” (a good character, one character). The chosen kanji is boldly brushed onto a large sheet of Japanese paper by the chief priest of Kiyomizu-dera. Through this event, people are given an opportunity to reflect on the social climate and events of the year.

myocardial infarction

Cold temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, making high blood pressure more likely and increasing the risk of myocardial infarction. Older adults should be especially careful. Sudden temperature changes—such as going from a warm room to the bathroom—are another contributing factor. Try to keep the temperature as consistent as possible.