Japanese New Year
In ancient times, the Japanese New Year was (Japanese正月shōgatsu orお正月with Honorativpräfix celebrated o-) as well as the Chinese and Korean New Year and the Vietnamese Tết festival according to the lunisolar calendar at the beginning of spring. Since 1873, Japan follows the Gregorian calendar and the New Year's Day was established on the 1st of January. He is one of the most important traditional holidays throughout the year, is celebrated for centuries and has developed its own unique customs.
Traditional Japanese New Year dishes
The Japanese eat on New Year a number of special courts, called Osechi. These include miso soup with mochi ( rice cake) and vegetables ( Zoni soup), tuna wrapped in sweet boiled kelp ( kombu, kobumaki ), jellied fish paste ( kamaboko ), pureed sweet potato with chestnut ( kurikinton ) and sweetened black beans ( kuromame ).
Many of the traditional dishes are sweet or sour, as they last longer. At the time of its invention, most shops closed for a week over New Year and the fridge was not yet invented.
There are many variations of Osechi, some dishes that are eaten in one place are never eaten at other places on New Year's or even " banned " on this day. Today, sashimi and sushi are often eaten, as well as pizza, fried chicken and ice cream. To treat the revised stomach a rest, there is on the 7th or 15th day of the year Nanakusa Gayu ( Seven - vegetable rice soup).
New Year's cards
In Japan, there is the custom, (年 贺 状, Nengajo ) to send to friends and relatives for New Year's Day Postcards - similar to Europe and America Christmas cards will be sent. Its original meaning was to give a sign of life and of his own family living far away friends and relatives. Today, it is almost a duty, friends and persons to whom one owes respect to write New Year cards, people get into higher positions annually a few hundred cards, shopkeepers send that many cards. Also in forms which address should be manufactured by hand at least. In December, one often hears the half- joking, half- anguished question, "How far are you with your New Year's cards? ".
It is customary not to exchange greeting cards when someone has died from the family during the year. In this case, you send simple postcards to inform friends and relatives that you will hold back because of bereavement in the family with congratulations and no greeting expected.
The maps show the Chinese zodiac sign of the new year, for 2014, for example, a horse, and a more or less personal communication.
Nengajo be sold including in securities transactions as pre-printed cards with printed stamps. Many of these next to the symbol animal of the year include formal greetings, such as the usual New Year's greeting akemashite Omedeto gozaimasu (明け まし て おめでとう ござい ます) or short only akemashite (明け まし て), which translates a "Congratulations for the dawn [ New Year ] " represents. You can also have a place to which the sender can write a personal message. Others use blank cards and write or draw their own map. Rubber stamps with greetings and the signs of the zodiac are sold in department stores and many people buy refillable writing brush to write congratulations. Special printing devices are particularly popular with artisans. For business and corporate printers offer a variety of pre-printed cards with short messages, so that the sender only needs to write the addresses. E -mail does not replace the traditional date Nengajo in Japan.
To a large extent New Year postcard today but created with the computer itself. There are numerous software to create and print the cards, the TV also explains older generations to deal with the art, for example the inclusion of family photos. Cost can be as original and personal cards in the necessary large number are created.
Post offices provide these cards exactly on January 1st from when used with the addition of " New Year's card " (年 贺 状, Nengajo ) are marked and are thrown up to a certain day in December in a special compartment then decorated the letter boxes. New Year's cards from senders to whom you had no greeting send will be answered even by mid-January. The end of December / early January is the busiest time for the Japanese post. To make editing the post offices every year many students as a temporary staff.
Otoshidama
On New Year, it is customary to give the children an allowance. This is for Toshidama (年 玉) or Otoshidama (お年玉) known and acquired a Chinese custom. The money will be handed over in small decorated envelopes ( ' pochibukuro ', descendants of the Chinese " Red Packet "). The sum depends on the age of the child when several children are there, but all usually get the same amount, so that no one feels disadvantaged.
Mochi
In the Edo period, distributed large stores and wealthy families with mochi ( rice cake) and a mandarin orange to spread happiness all around small bags.
Even today, prepared before the New Year Mochi and eaten at the beginning of January.
From Mochi and New Year Decoration Kagami -mochi is made. It consists of two round mochi, a daidai ( bitter orange ) and other decoration.
Poetry
The New Year traditions are also part of Japanese poetry, including haiku and renga. All of the above traditions can be used in haiku as kigo ( season word ). There are also haiku that celebrate many things that happen to the New Year for the first time, as " first sun " ( hatsuhi ) or " first sunrise ", " first laughter " ( waraizome - to start the new year with a smile is as good regarded ) and "First dream" ( Hatsuyume ). As the New Year was originally a year later, many of these poems mention the beginning of spring.
In terms of New Year's cards, Haiku, for example, the " first letter " ( hatsudayori ), the "first calligraphy" ( Kakizome ), and the mention " first brush" ( fude hajime ).
Games
It is in Japan also customary to play at New Year's certain games: Hanetsuki, Takoage ( kite flying ), koma ( a game with a dice - circle), Sugoroku, Fukuwarai ( a person placed blindfolded parts of a face (eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth) on a paper face), karuta ( card games ), etc.