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Welcome to 2012!

January 1st is New Year or ‘Shogatsu’ and is one of the most important holidays celebrated in Japan.   It’s a time for people to stop working and return to their hometowns to spend time with family – very much like our Thanksgiving and Christmas combined.

The home is given a big clean out, kind of like the spring cleaning of some western countries, in preparation for up coming holiday. On the night of December 31st some people visit a temple to watch a Buddhist priest ring the huge temple bell 108 times.  The 108 bongs on the bell represent the 108 torments (negative sinful traits) that people are said to have in their mind and serve to repent for those sins allowing us to start the New Year as innocent (clean) people again.  Kind of like a ‘do over’ – pretty neat idea and a nice way to bring in the new  year mentally.

On January 1st many Japanese get up early to watch the first sunrise and then during the next three days they will visit three Shinto Shrines to pray and wish for good health and prosperity in the coming year.   Some of the popular shrines have literally thousands of people visiting them, truly unbelievable!  

Also you may notice the Japanese people decorate their houses with ‘good luck’ ornaments around New Year’s Day, which is to welcome the God of the Year.  After using those ornaments and amulets, you can’t just throw them away as trash. People take all used ornaments to the shrines or temples on the “Donto-yaki” to burn them in a great big bon fire!   This event usually is held in the middle of January 15th-16th.

 

Check out some wonderful photos from this blogger-

http://www.kenleewrites.com/2010/01/dondo-yaki-どんど焼き.html

Finally on January 9th a very important day for all new coming 20 year olds!  The celebration is called “Coming of Age Day” or  Seijin no Hi ceremony takes place in the morning and all the “new adults” in area are invited to a large auditorium or theater.  They gather together along with their families and friends. During these ceremonies, government officials tend to give speeches to inspire and honor them. Throughout most of Japan, twenty is the age where people are subjected to adult laws, gain the right to vote, and to drink, thus making the age of twenty is the age of adulthood in Japan.  These young ladies look stunning and fashionably beautiful with their expensive kimonos. 

Best wishes to all my friends and fans, thank you all for your support!

 A very happy & healthy 2012!  - Jackie