Various Artists: Christmas at KFC

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
You want that in Original Recipe, or Extra Crispy?

Many of you silly earthlings are unaware that Christmas, being a Christian Holiday, is celebrated madly in Japan! It is not a National Holiday (nor should it be in a nation that is 84-96% Budhist/Shintoist) and, so, is not a "day off from work". The Japanese do, however, celebrate the purely secular aspects of the day (meaning… They Shop Like Crazy and Spend Lots of Money).

Shopping Malls and Shopping Districts spend loads of ¥en on elaborate and beautiful displays. Shiny, sparkly lights shine and sparkle all over the place. And one American Corporation, in particular, has utilized the holiday as a marketing tool for years. Many Japanese are convinced that the typical American Christmas Dinner is provided by… Kentucky Fried Chicken!?!

Yep. That's Right. They begin weeks ahead of the actual day, placing orders for "Christmas Barrels". They also spend huge piles of cash on "Christmas Cakes" (sponge cakes, frosted with whipped cream and decorated, usually, with strawberries).

The KFC connection is, primarily, a result of the intense marketing campaigns of the old KFC Corporation and, now, Yum Brands. Most of the KFCs in Japan have near-lifesize statues of Colonel Sanders standing out in front of them and, around Christmas, they all get dressed in Santa Claus outfits.

I mention this only because I wish to point out that Kentucky Fried Chicken has been a huge promoter of Christmas for several decades now, as is evidenced by this post. Allow me, please, to present two fabulous Classic Christmas Recordings from 1966 and 1968 (respectively)…

Various Artists: Christmas Eve with Colonel Sanders

1. White Christmas - Jim Reeves
   
2. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - The Anita Kerr Singers
   
3. Silver Bells - Floyd Cramer
   
4. Medley: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Good King Wenceslas -
   Hugo & Luigi with Their Children's Chorus
   
5. O Come, All Ye Faithful - Chet Atkins
   
6. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Skeeter Davis
   
7. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Hank Locklin
   
8. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Chet Atkins
   
9. The Little Drummer Boy - The Norman Luboff Choir
   
10. A Christmas Festival (Medley) - Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops
    

Various Artists: Christmas Day with Colonel Sanders

1. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Ed Ames
   
2. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - The Norman Luboff Choir
   
3. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Morton Gould and His Orchestra
   
4. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Al Hirt
   
5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Chet Atkins
   
6. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) -
   Henry Mancini and His Orchestra
   
7. White Christmas - Lana Cantrell
   
8. Medley: Away in a Manger / I Saw Three Ships -
   Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra and Chorus
   
9. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Floyd Cramer
10. Medley: Wassail Song / Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly - The Robert Shaw Chorale
    
11. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops
12. Silent Night - Jim Reeves