New Years Eve
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New Year's Eve is celebrated by the Japanese in a very traditional manner. Even though the times have progressed, the Japanese have not let go of their heritage, and make sure that the New Year is ushered in according to convention. There are a number of time-honored rituals that the Japanese follow on the New Year's Eve. These are -
Ousouji
On the New Year's Eve morning, the Japanese people clean the whole house, and this extremely important process is called Ousouji. This cleaning has a special meaning, and its purpose is to welcome the New Year and to hope for a better life than the former year. The house is cleaned, both inside and outside, and stains are washed out so as to purify the home and freshen it for the New Year.
Traditional Dishes on New Year's Eve
The New Year is welcomed with a number of special Shogatsu (New Year) Dishes that are prepared by the women of the house. In the morning of the New Year's Eve, the women of the house cook the Osechi, a traditional Japanese dish based on fish, beans, and egg, which is eaten a few days after the New Year.
Another important food cooked on the New Year's Eve is Omochi, steamed rice that has been chopped and made into cakes. This is usually had either grilled, or in a soup, known as Ozoni. It is traditionally said that people make enough food so that they can take a rest from cooking for the New Year's Days.
It is also traditional to eat soba (buckwheat noodles) on New Year's Eve since thin long noodles symbolize longevity. It is called toshikoshi soba, which means "New Year's Eve Noodle" in English.
Traditional decorations on New Year's Eve
There are a number of decorations hung up on the New Year's Eve to usher in the New Year. The men hang the Shimenawa, a sacred rope made of straw, and rice stems, on which zigzag strips of paper have been draped as kind of decoration, on the front door.
A pine decoration known as Kadomatsu is also set up on both sides of the front entrance on the New Year's Eve. Some homes have elaborate Kadomatsu with bamboo added to the pine, as well as plum branches. The Kadomatsu is considered to welcome good luck into the house.
The Shimekazari, which is made with straw, paper decoration, and tangerines are hung at various places on the New Year's Eve, to thank the gods for harvest. The bamboo, pine, tangerines are also symbols of long life, vitality, and good fortune.
Traditional Evenings with the family on the New Year's Eve
After the preparations are completed on the New Year's Eve, the Japanese watch a TV program called Singing Battle Between the Red and the White Team. It has been telecast every year for more than 50 years, and is thought of by the Japanese as a part of the closing moment of the year.
At midnight on New Year's Eve, the whole of Japan listens to the tolling of the Tsuri-Gane, the great bells or gongs at Japan's Buddhist temples. The entire family remains awake to hear the Joya-no-Kane, or midnight tolling of the temple bells. The Joya-no-Kane is made up of 108 solemn tolls on the temple bells. According to Buddhism, man has 108 sins, of which he can be relieved by hearing these bells toll. Local Ujigami shrines have large numbers of visitors as soon as these 108 bells are sounded to usher in the New Year.
Visiting Japan at this time of the year, especially on the New Year's Eve, is a great thing, as one gets to witness the rich cultural heritage of the nation. Do take a trip to Japan on the New Year's Eve, and partake of the wonderful and colorful traditional events celebrated to bid goodbye to the past year, and to welcome the New Year.
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