New Years and the Japanese Shrine (Part 1)
It's almost the end of the year and we will soon be celebrating with our families over the holidays. But do you know what New Year is like in Japan? New Year is very important in Japan, more important that Christmas.
As today was the final lesson of the year we learnt all about what Japanese people do on New Years and took a tour around a Shinto Shrine.
In Japan Shogatsu (New Year) is a big event, where all the family members return home to celebrate together. The children recieve an envelope full of money called an otoshidama which is a bit like recieving pocket money. This is definitely the most exciting thing about New Year for Japanese children.
On the days before New Year families will clean their homes and decorate it with traditional Japanese New Years decorations, such as Kadomatsu (pine decoration for the gate), shimekazari (Straw rope decoration) and the kagamimochi (mirror rice cake).
(Above left to right: kadomatsu, shimekazari, kagamimochi)
On New Years day they eat osechi ryori which is a traditional meal made up from lots of Japanese dishes that come in laqured boxes. Each dish has a special meaning for the Japanese New Year. For example, cooked black soy beans wish for a "diligent life" (work hard) and coiled kelp stands for "happiness". They also eat zoni soup with mochi (Japanese rice cakes).
After their big family meal everyone vists the shrine for hatsumode - the first shrine visit of the year. There they pray for happiness for the year to come.
Happy New Year in Japanese is Akemashite omedetougozaimasu! Can you say it?
Ake-ma-shi-te O-mede-tou Go-za-imas
