Happy new year 2020
The new year 2020 is coming. Along with Golden week and Obon, the new year is one of the most important holiday in Japan. Japanese people also take at least 3-day long holiday and families gather to celebrate these cheerful days toghether.
From 1873, Japanese people officially start to celebrate the new year on January the 1st. These days before the new year, front gates of houses and shrines are decorated with traditional ornaments called kadomatsu (門松), literally means a gate made of pine. Nowadays, the kadomatsu is also made of bamboo and dried rice. Shimegazari, a kind of wreath made of leaves, dried rice and mandarin orange are put on the front door of every houses.
During the new year celebration, Japanese people often have Osechi and soup with mochi (sticky rice cake). Osechi is a colorful selection of dishes, with their meaning and wishes of health, wealth and logevity for the new year.
On New year’s eve members in families gather on the dinner table to have toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), which symbolize longevity.
Like in other Asian countries, after New year’s eve and on the first day of the year (kanjitsu) Japanese people often go to shrines, temples or pagodas. it is called hatsumode. People pray for a new year with a lot of happiness and peacefulness.
If you have chance to visit Matsumoto during the New year celebration, please join us in hatsumode at Yohashira shrine, a very popular shrine at Nawate street.
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