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While New
Year's Day is widely celebrated worldwide, in Japan it has
special importance. In fact, it is probably the most important holiday in
the Japanese year. In most cultures this day brings promise for new hopes
but in Japan it has added significance.
Food, always important in
Japanese culture, is a big part of New Year's day. A traditional meal called
"Osechi" is a traditional meal eaten at New Years. The Osechi meal
can be made at home but are more commonly purchased through many
companies. This is because Osechi meals contain several small but
important portions of different foods, each of which have a special
meaning. Even JAL, Japan's major airline, offers Osechi meals for sale.
These are typically somewhat expensive to purchase, but on this most
important day large expenses can be justified. Osechi meals are not
prepared for taste but for tradition. Each portion of the meal has an
important meaning such as long life or wealth. These may vary from
prefecture to prefecture or even from town to town.
Religion also plays a key role. Shrines and temples are visited and
prayers offered. Buddhist shrines are busy with visitors offering New
Year's prayers and tossing money near the shrine entrance. Most pictures
show crows gathering though in smaller communities throughout the country
this is smaller and more local affair. Larger shrines in major cities
attract large crowds and followers arrive very early just to ensure a
place in line.
Some in Japan choose a more Western style celebration of extravagance
on the eve of the year, some go to bed early deliberately choosing to
sleep peacefully into the new year. A diverse nation of young and old,
Japan has no standard for New Year's but tradition plays a large role. |
