Happy New Year from NILS Japanese language school.
We would like to introduce some New Year events in Japan for the next few days.

[正月（しょうがつ）/The New Year]
The New Year is one of the most important holidays for the Japanese. Until the end of the Second World War, everyone celebrated becoming one year older on New Year’s Day regardless of their real birthday. Moreover, as the old proverb says, “it is the day to make new plans for the year (一年の計は元旦にあり/いちねんのけいはがんたんにあり)” and start afresh with a new state of mind. Most Japanese rest during the first three days of the New Year (正月三賀日/しょうがつさんがにち) and many companies and schools are closed fro one week or more during this season, so we can enjoy doing lots of time-honored customs for theis season in a relaxed manner.

[注連飾り/Shimekazari]
People decorate the entrances of their homes with shimekazari during the New Year’s season to ward off evel spirits. They are made of shimenawa, sacred Shinto rope of rice straw, used to iindecate the sacred areas where gods descend. Simekazari is a special shimenawa decorated with various auspicious objects such as bitter oranges, ferns and lobsters. When the New Year’s period ends, shimekazari and other New Year’s decorations are taken to shrines and burned.



[門松/Kadomatsu]
Kadomatsu are a pair of pine decorations which are placed in front of the gates of a residence from January 1 to 7. Kadomatsu consist of three banboo poles of different lengths which are cut diagonally. Pine tree branches are sprays of plum trees are fastened to the bamboo poles with a new straw rope. These three plants are considered auspicious, particularly pine, which is a symbol of longevity and it is believed gods descend to it. They are all removed and burned on January 7.



January 6th news from NILS Japanese language school.