People’s Day, January 7th, is for eating foods made from seven specific herbs. Usually the herbs are Seri, Nazuna, Jacobella, Hotokenoza, Gokyo, Suzuna and Suzushiro. It is based on the tradtional Chinese holiday of Renri, the day humans were created ;-D
Coming of Age Day in Japan 成人の日 せいじんのひ
Coming of Age Day in Japan is a holiday where people who became 20 years old the previous year have a ceremony at the city office and parties.
大寒 だいかん Daikan
The 24th of 24 solar terms of the ancient Chinese calendar. It begins on the 20th of January and ends the 4th of February. After this is begins Chinese New …
Nozawa Fire Festival, Dōsojin Fire Festival in Nagano Prefecture
The Nozawa Fire Festival is considered one of three great fire festivals in Japan. It is a three day event where a shrine is built and then burnt down!
Little New Year or Women’s New Year 小正月 こしょうがつ
The 15th of January is another New Year holiday known as Little New Year or Women’s New Year. Little New Year has many customs that vary widely across Japan and is roughly equivalent to the a Lantern Festival in China.
Kagami Biraki 鏡開き かがみびらき
Kagami Biraki is sometimes translated as “opening of the mirror” but these days “breaking of the mochi” is probably much more appropriate. The ceremonial mochi and barrels of sake offered to the gods at New Year are broken on January 11th. The housewarming kind of Kagami Biraki with a barrel of sake seems to be done just about anytime.
New Year’s First Game of Kemari In Kyoto : Kemari Hajime 蹴鞠始め（京都)
Hacky Sack of the Gods! his is the New Year’s first game of Kemari held at Shimagamo shrine in Kyoto. Kemari is an ancient game from China that is basically …
First Dream of the Year : Hatsuyume 初夢 はつゆめ
What Dreams May Come… For Hatsuyume! he first dream of the year is considered to be very auspicious of your luck for the rest of the year to come. Apparently …
Japanese New Year 元日 がにじつ
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.
