Cozy Christmas: Learning the Word “Danro”
Celebrate the holiday season with this cozy interior scene.
While coloring the crackling fire and the decorated tree, let’s learn some Japanese vocabulary related to this image!
This page is perfect for Japanese language learners and anyone interested in cultural words.
Japanese Vocabulary Focus: 暖炉 (Danro)
The focal point of this coloring page is the fireplace. In Japanese, we call this “Danro” (だんろ / 暖炉).
- Kanji Breakdown:
- 暖 (Dan): Means “Warm” (as in Atatakai).
- 炉 (Ro): Means “Hearth” or “Furnace”.
Putting them together, it literally means a “warming hearth.” While traditional Japanese houses used an “Irori” (sunken hearth), modern Western-style fireplaces are admired as a symbol of a romantic and cozy winter, often seen in movies or hotels in Japan.
Christmas in Japan
Did you know? In Japan, Christmas (クリスマス – Kurisumasu) is celebrated a bit differently than in the West.
It is generally not a religious holiday but rather a time for couples to have a romantic dinner, or for families to enjoy “Christmas Cake” (usually a strawberry sponge cake) and fried chicken!
Color this page while imagining a peaceful winter evening in Japan.
Coloring Tips
Use warm colors like orange, red, and yellow for the Danro to make it look hot and inviting.
Contrast this with cool blues for the window to represent the cold Japanese winter outside.
Don’t forget to practice writing “暖炉” in the empty spaces of the paper!
