Shogatsu, or
Oshogatsu, that is, the Japanese New Year, starts on the 1st of
January and continues till the 3rd. Shogatsu is a very important
Japanese holiday. As the New Year unfolds, wish all your
Japanese friends a happy and prosperous New Year.
In ancient times, the Japanese New Year was based on the same
Chinese calendar as the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese New Year
(at the beginning of spring). Since 1873, Japan has followed the
same months as the Gregorian calendar, so January 1st is the
official New Year's Day for Japan. It is one of the most
important festivals of the whole year. The Japanese New Year is
a traditional festival which has been celebrated for centuries
and has its own unique customs.
Celebration
marked by rituals and greetings
The three-day New Year holiday is a very special time in Japan, a time
of solemn prayers and joyous greetings. While New Year's Day is a
holiday in many parts of the world, the occastion has a unique
significance to the Japanese, who take the opportunity to begin anew
many aspects of their lives.
New Year is regarded in Japan as an auspicious occasion. As such, it is
filled with traditional activities which, it is hoped, will result in a
more successful year. The people particularly observe the age-old
Japanese custom of not carrying-over any debts or tasks from the old
year to the new. As the end of the year approaches, therefore,
businessmen busily wind up their affairs of the old year. They try to
pay all their obligations by New Year's Eve. Even non-businessmen try to
clear the slate by the end of the year.
Houses are specially cleaned. Homemakers all over the nation work extra
hard preparing for the holiday. They must prepare many special foods,
clean the house even more rigorously than usual, and make decorations
for the holiday season.
The cleaning is called Susuharai, or soot-sweeping. Both inside and
outside the house, the stains, physical and spiritual, of the past year
are rubbed out in order to purify the home and make it fresh for the New
Year.
Then, on New Year's Eve, a pine decoration known as Kadomatsu is set up
on both sides of the front entrance. Some homes have elaborate Kadomatsu
with bamboo added to the pine, as well as plum branches. The Kadomatsu
is thought to welcome good luck into the house.
Another, equally-important decoration is the Shimenawa, a sacred rope
made of straw on which zig-zag strips of paper have been hung. This is
placed above the front entrance in order to prevent "evil spirits" from
entering the house.
