お正月　NEW YEAR'S DAY




★お正月の意味★

★道具・服★

★方法（お年玉・除夜の鐘）★

★料理（おせち料理）★

We are going to explain about ‘Oshogatsu’ or New Year’s Week.

Oshogatsu is the most important event to Japanese people.

Almost all Japanese people celebrate Oshogatsu.

Family members and relatives who always live in different places gather in a place or someone’s home, and have a big party.

Oshogatsu is a kind of ceremony in which you welcome New Year God to your house and take energy and spirit from God so that you can spend a new year healthfully and safely.

You put and hang special ornaments in your house in order to welcome God.

‘Kadomatsu’ or a pair of ornaments at the entrance of the house which is made with some evergreens and bamboos is a mark for New Year God.

‘Kagami Mochi’ or round rice cakes are put in some places of your house and offered to New Year God.

‘Shimenawa’ or twisted rice straw of which shape is like a Christmas wreath is hung on the door of the entrance.

On New Year’s Eve, the temples’ bells toll one hundred eight times. It is called ‘Joya no Kane’ or the watch-night bell. People believe that the tolls purify your sins of this year and you can welcome New Year God with clean body and soul.

It’s a question time.

 What is the happiest thing for children in a New Year’s Week?

 Option 1 To receive presents.

 Option 2 To receive money.

 Option 3 To have a party.

The correct answer is 2. We call it ‘Otoshidama’ A long time ago, ‘Otoshidama’ meant that the head of the family gave small pieces of rice cake to the family members on New Years Week. Nowadays it changed into giving money to children.

We also have special meals called ‘Osechi’, which are put in a lacquer ware and served. Osechi foods are all for luck.

On New Year’s Day Japanese people go to Shinto Shrine and pray for their luck, health, peace, and fortune of a new year.

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