The Japanese New Year is a public holiday on January 1st. Throughout Japan people go to shrines and temples to have first of the year prayers.

Hanging Out Without the Family

On Japanese New Year

The Japanese New Year is a public holiday on January 1st. Throughout Japan people go to shrines and temples to have first prayers of the year. People also eat New Year’s foods, called Osechi Ryori, meant to promote good luck, long life, and prosperity throughout the new year.

With Family on Japanese New Year

Next to Bon, Japanese New Year is the biggest family holiday. Unlike Bon, where the family must gather at the ancestral village or grandparents house, this holiday is pretty free with where everybody ends up, just as long as the family is all together. Most people will have a meal of Osechi Ryori on this day on this day similar to Christmas dinner in other countries. Otoshidama, or New Year Money, are also given out to children. Usually children receive five to six thousand yen from around five or six family members; roughly three hundred dollars in all.

First Prayers of the Japanese New Year

Another tradition just everybody enjoys is Hatsumode, first prayers of the New Year. People go to shrines and temples to burn the previous year’s talisman bow and to pray for a good rest of the new year. At this time people can go to either a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine. Both sell talismen and some offer extra services such as blessings by the monks of priests, or being allowed to pray near the alter type place. Some people will offer prayers just after the stroke of mid-night and others still spend a part of the early, early morning going from local temples and shrines (don’t fell like you have to restrict yourself to just one).

References

In English

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2064.html

https://www.hisgo.com/us/destination-japan/blog/japanese_new_years_traditions.html

In Japanese

https://chigai-allguide.com/元日と元旦と正月/

https://kotobank.jp/word/元日-48851

Image from tenki.jp

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