Year end and New Year’s traditional customs in Japan

I have quite a lot of things to do at the end of the year and at the beginning of the new year here in　Japan. We cleaned our whole house especially we did the places which we normally don't care very much about such as cleaning the back side and rails of windows, for caps of the lights in the halls and other details in our home and garden. On the first day of the year, "Gantan", in　Japan, many people traditionally go to pray at a Shinto shrine or Buddhism temple with family members or friends, after eating "Osechi" which is traditional Japanese food for the new year. It consists on meat and vegetables which can be kept for several days at the beginning of the New Year. We also went to the nearest temple called "Nakayama　Temple" to pray to the god for good luck of our family members and myself.

On the second day of the New Year, I went to our relatives house with my wife and my son. This is my wife's original home and almost ten relatives met together. We played table tennis and table games with our children. We had a good fun for the family event once a year. Next day, 3rd of January, I went to eat crab at a nearby restaurant with my family members. It has been also our family event every year for four years. Depending on families, different events are available for the New Year in　Japan, but many people go to their home towns and spend several days for the New Year with their families. How were your year end and New Year events in your country?

 

Comments

[PeterD]

明けましておめでとうございます。

[yasuyuki kanaoka]

ピーターさん。明けましておめでとうございます。本年もよろしくお願い申し上げます。