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Oshogatsu , that's what the Japanese New Year is known as, is a time of feasting and greeting in Japan. Initially Japan followed the Chinese calendar but since 1873 it started following the Gregorian calendar with January 1 st as the New Year's Day. Japanese New Year Celebrations last for over 3 to 4 days with businesses been shut to welcome the New Year from January 1 st to 3 rd .
Time for peace and resolution and no work is what people associate Japanese New Year with. Visiting temples and praying for prosperity in the New Year is also a part of Japanese New Year Celebrations. Japanese ensure chasing away the evil as they enter the New Year by dumping the old and bring in the good luck charms on the New Year's Day. Feng Shui turtles and cranes are some of the popular good luck charms and apart from these houses are thoroughly cleansed and decorated with origami to bring in the happiness and peace in the coming year.
Talking about Japanese New Year is incomplete if one doesn't mention about the traditional Japanese New Year dish called “ Mochi” or “Rice Cake”. Served in a stew called “ Ozoni”, this dish is the famous Japanese New Year specialty and no wonder your Japanese New Year Celebrations remain incomplete if you missed eating it in breakfast on the New Year's Day.
Another popular custom followed on the occasion of Oshogatsu is that of “ Otoshidama ” or “ New Year Treasure ”. Inherited from China, this is a custom in which Japanese people give pocket money to children. Playing traditional New Year games on Japanese New Year like “Furuwarai” (pin the tail on the donkey), “Hanetsuki” (Japanese badminton), “Karuta” (card game) and “Takoage” (kite flying) is an added attraction.
Wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year, Travour offers you New Year Tours around the world along with online information on New Year Celebrations and Japanese New Year.
Listed below are some popular New Years:
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