Newsletter Volume 41

Greetings!

 

 

December is here and JASGA just finished our Bounenkai, the end-of-the-year or forget-the-year party.  

 

Shogatsugoto-hajime (正月事始め, New Year Preparations):  December is called Shiwasu(師走) in Japanese which literally means "teachers run around." This word reflects the busiest month of the year. During December, Bounenkai gatherings are held among co-workers or friends. It's a Japanese custom to send oseibo (end-of-year gifts) around this time of the year. Also, it's customary to write and mail Nengajo (Japanese New Year's postcards) in December so that they are delivered on New Year's Day.

 

On the winter solstice (冬至 toji), some Japanese traditions are observed, such as eating kabocha pumpkin and taking yuzu bath. The reason for that is our wish to stay healthy during the winter by keeping warm and eating nutritious food.

 

 

 

 

Another New Year's decoration is kagami-mochi 

which usually consists of two round shaped mochi rice cakes one on top of the other.

 

 

As many people are off work from the national holiday on the 23rd of December (Emperor's birthday) to the 3rd of January in Japan.  After the all busy work, the Japanese usually spend New Year's Eve (oomisoka) rather quietly with the family. It is traditional to eat toshikoshi-soba (buckwheat noodles for passing the year ) on New Year's Eve since thin long noodles symbolize longevity. People say to each other "yoi otoshiwo" which means "Have a nice year passing" at the end of the year.

 

Before midnight on New Year's Eve, temple bells across Japan begin to toll slowly 108 times. It's called joya-no-kane. People welcome the new year by listening to the sound of temple bells. It is said that the temple bell tolls purify ourselves of our 108 worldly desires. At many temples, visitors can strike joya-no-kane. You might need to arrive early to participate in tolling the bells.