Shogatsu : Japanese New Year
Shogatsu : Japanese New Year
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Photo by Ryutaro Tsukata - pexels |
Japanese New Year, or Shogatsu, is one of Japan's most important and widely celebrated festivals. The New Year is a period of reflection, renewal, and reconnecting with family and loved ones. We will look at the foods, rituals, and customs involved with Japanese New Year in this blog post.
On New Year's Eve,
Japanese people traditionally clean their homes and assemble with family on New Year's Eve, or Omisoka, to prepare for the coming year. Several families visit a temple or shrine at midnight to partake in the Joya no Kane ceremony, which entails ringing a big bell 108 times to signify sin purification.
New Year's Day
On New Year's Day, or Ganjitsu, many Japanese people go to a shrine or temple to pray for good fortune and health in the next year. Many individuals also observe the traditional custom of Hatsumode, which entails visiting the first shrine or temple of the year.
Food
Food is an important part of Japanese New Year celebrations, with several traditional meals made for the occasion. Following are some of the most common meals consumed during Shogatsu:
Osechi-ryori: A special array of traditional Japanese New Year dishes served in lacquered boxes, Osechi-ryori features a variety of foods with symbolic significance such as black beans for health, fish cakes for fertility, and chestnuts for success.
Toshikoshi soba: A type of buckwheat noodle, toshikoshi soba is commonly consumed on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day to represent longevity and the passage from one year to the next.
Ozoni: A traditional New Year's dish prepared with mochi (sticky rice cakes), veggies, and broth, ozoni differs in preparation from region to region.
Nishime: A simmering dish made of several root vegetables, nishime is frequently offered as part of Osechi-ryori and represents family unity and health.
Customs and rituals
Aside from meals, Japanese New Year is associated with a number of ceremonies and customs. Here are a couple of examples:
Kagami mochi: A decorative New Year's cake consisting of two piled mochi (sticky rice cakes) and topped with a bitter orange, kagami mochi is commonly displayed in homes during the New Year season.
Otoshidama: A traditional New Year's present of money given to youngsters, otoshidama is generally distributed by parents and relatives in little envelopes.
Daruma dolls: Daruma dolls are a sort of traditional Japanese doll that are frequently acquired around the New Year season and used to set goals and intentions for the next year.
Fukubukuro: A type of fortunate bag filled with unknown objects, fukubukuro are frequently offered throughout the New Year season in stores and shopping malls.
Conclusion
Japanese New Year is a period of reflection, renewal, and enjoyment. The New Year season is a time for Japanese people to gather with family and loved ones to celebrate the coming year, from traditional cuisine to symbolic rituals and custo
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