#newyear – Little Japan Dictionary

8th January – 睦月

お年玉　Otoshidama Giving money the relative kids in the New Years time. Long time ago, it was completely different event; the leader of the house gives rice cake which was offered for the god to the family. The concept of this custom was to get a rice cake from Toshigami-Sama (house god) in the early NewContinue reading “8th January – 睦月”

6th January – 睦月

書初め　（Kakizome） Japanese Calligraphy (習字 shuji) which has traditionally conducted on 2nd January, writing new year resolution on shodou Paper. In the old time, it was only done by nobility. Nowadays most people do not do this in the traditional way, making the ink with the water which was taken for the first time in the veryContinue reading “6th January – 睦月”

5th January – 睦月

年賀状　(Nenga-jou) New Years Greeting Card- thanking for the previous years kindness and relationship and cerebrating for the new year. Nowadays people send 年賀状(Nengajou) to people who are friends, relatives and wants to keep the relationships. However, in the older time it was sent for people who they cannot see them on New Years time (thereContinue reading “5th January – 睦月”

3rd January – 睦月

初詣　Hatsu-Moude Visiting the shrine or temple for the first time in the year, thanking the gods to protect family for previous year and wising the peace and good health for this year. 初詣 (Hatsu-moude) is generally conducted in the very early morning on 1st of January to 3rd of January, but in some region it couldContinue reading “3rd January – 睦月”

2nd January – 睦月

初夢　(Hatu－yume) What did you dream last night? Japanese people have believed the dream fortune-telling since old times. Especially the dream people had for the first time in the year is considered as the most important one as it will forecast the rest of the year. Generally speaking, people consider the first dream (Hatsu-yume) as theContinue reading “2nd January – 睦月”

1st January – 睦月 (Mutsuki)

明けましておめでとうございます (Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu) — Saying to each other and celebrate the New Year. Thanking the gods for letting people pass through the previous year safely, and celebrating about welcoming the gods again to earth. A Happy New Year! In Japan, it is the celebration of welcoming the gods who bring happiness, harvest andContinue reading “1st January – 睦月 (Mutsuki)”