The New Year is the most special event of the year for Japanese. During the New Year’s Days, most of Japanese people believe that God of the Year (Toshigami-sama) is descending on each home. People wished to welcome the god with pure mind and to receive power.
The main of ceremonies in a New Year are :
Hatsumode : New Year’s first visit to a shrine to pray.
Kakizome : The first calligraphy of New Year. People write auspicious words or poems with a brush, wishing the improvement in their writing skill.
Hatsuyume : The first dream on New Year’s Day. People tell their fortunate omen for the year, judging from what they dream.
Nanakusa : on the 7th day, people remove all the new years ornaments and decorative pine branches which have been put up at the gate.
Kagamimochi/osonaemochi : Mochi (rice cake) which is offered to teh god of the year.
Ko-shougatsu : on the 15th day. New year according to lunar calendar. Pople put up events such as dondo-yaki and sagicho, which are the fire festivies to burn New Year’s ornaments.
Source : Japan, How We Breathe & How our Hearts Beat; New Millenium Network Corporation.
