New Year in Japan is a public celebration and a spiritual festival. On this day japanese make a symbolic first visit in a new year to a Shinto shrine or to a Buddhist temple. Many people want to be the first to meet rising sun in a shrine surroundings. Burning amulets of the last year and obtaining a new ones to assure the coming year will be fortune is a common ritual. After the ceremony in shrine visitors are granted with sake.
Japanese culture is reach of traditions and full of symbolism. The Zodiac ( in Japanese Kanshi or Eto) complexed system based on astronomy and cosmology is one of Japanese specialities. In ancient times Zodiac served for time calculation, to define years, months, days and so on. Adopted from China Zodiac calendar solidly merged into Japanese system of believes and customs. Each of the 12 Zodiac animals (Juuni Shi), patrons a year once in a circle of 12 years. The symbol of the coming year is printed on the post stamps and lottery tickets to bring a good luck.
Typical New Year decoration is pine and bamboo settled together in front of houses and shops called kadomatsu. Pine symbolized longevity while bamboo signifies straightness and sincerity, added freshly cut plum branch stands for new life and new beginning. Japanese decorate facades of their houses with colorful kazari – house wearing to attract fortune.
Celebration lasts for 2-3 days so most of the companies are closed during this time. Family spend the day playing traditional games. Diner menu includes rice-cake and special New Year soup o-zoni. Culmination of the celebration is the Emperor appearenace in front of the people from his Imperial residence in Tokyo.
Cook your own O-zoni:
http://theanimeblog.com/japanese-recipes/japanese-recipe-ozoni/
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Milly
10 months ago
Well written article.