New Year's Japanese Style

New Year's Japanese Style

New Year's Japanese Style

It is nothing like Chinese New Year, and as many of the names of things come from the original Japanese rather than the borrowed Chinese pronunciations, I would think that its roots run very deep.

There are no firecrackers or Dragon Dances; the only sound on New Year's Eve is the ringing of the big temple bell, one stroke for each of the over one hundred human desires. The family relaxes, has a few special and symbolic dishes and goes to bed shortly after midnight.

On New Year's morning a feast is prepared. Ceremonial spiced sake, with gold flakes in it, is drunk from special lacquer cups. Every dish has a symbolic meaning. Herring roe is eaten to ensure fertility. Black, sweetened soybeans guarantee health and strength in the New Year. Rice cake ensures that prosperity will not be lost. The New Year's feast, eaten at eight in the morning, is one of the most highly ritualized feasts in the world.

While on New Year's Eve the only sound was that of the temple bell, on New Year's Day Japanese show adherence to their deepest roots by paying a visit to a Shinto shrine. This is call 'hatsumode,' or, the first shrine visit of the year. People throw lucky coins from long distances away. They buy slips of paper that tell their fortunes called 'omikuji' and tie them onto tree branches so that they will be fulfilled. They buy amulets from everything from safe passage to good fortune in studies. These are called, 'omamori.'

The Japanese certainly claim that they are an irreligious people, 'devout agnostics.' In point of fact, they talk about God, or Gods, very little. But their behavior in buying fortunes and amulets belies their denials toward any belief at all in religion.

This article was written by Dinah Jackson who enjoys writing about science, travel and Pokemon. To find the rarest Japanese Pokemon items, check out the store that has every kind of Pokemon plushie that you can imagine. Also an incredible selection of Pokemon pokedolls, plush toys, figures, keychains, binders, deck boxes, sleeves, plush toys, and just about anything you can imagine. Delivered right to your front door from Japan.

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