Akemashite Omedetou! Happy New Year's!

New Year's and Christmas in Japan are celebrated a tad bit opposite to what you'd expect as an American. Typically, Christmas is a holiday more catered for your family and loved ones, saving the New Year's celebration for friends (among the religious aspects). However, in Japan, the roles are reversed. Christmas is more viewed as a celebration of friends, whereas the New Year's is one for family.

How is it celebrated?

Generally, New Year's is treated as more of a traditional holiday in Japan. Here are a few of those traditions:

Otoshidama

This is a tradition in which adults give children a small sum of money, usually in a small envelope. It originated from a shrine ritual in which kagami-mochi (round rice cakes) are offered to the god of the New Year. 

Hatsumoude

Hatsumoude is the first shrine visit of the year. Many go the first couple of days in the new year, and wish good health upon themselves and others. Note that many businesses are also closed during this time.

Food  

Similarly to other cultural traditions around the world, food plays an important role in the New Year's celebration. Dishes such as mochi, prawn, toshikoshi soba (eaten New Years Eve), ozoni, osechi (eaten New Year's Day) and more are consumed, each holding separate meaning. I had the chance to make some mochi for the New Year with some friends of mine! 

Hatsuhinode

Likely the least popular tradition of the above listed, hatsuhinode is the tradition of observing the first sunrise of the new year. This practice represents hope and renewal, and is meant to be a rejuvenating and serene practice. I'd personally love to experience this over Lake Biwa!

There are many unique traditions that occur during this time of year in Japan, and if you're given the chance, you should definitively participate!