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New Year is call 'Shogatsu' in Japan. Most Japanese people return home at the end of the year to spend time with family and participate in New Year traditions.
Omisaka is the tradition of gathering one last time in the old year (with family or friends) to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba or toshikoshi-udon. This tradition is based on the people's association of eating long noodles with 'crossing over from one year to the next', which is the meaning of 'toshi-koshi'. Families also make 'Osechi' on New Years Day because cooking during the first 3 days of the New Year is considered unlucky,
Omisaka is the tradition of gathering one last time in the old year (with family or friends) to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba or toshikoshi-udon. This tradition is based on the people's association of eating long noodles with 'crossing over from one year to the next', which is the meaning of 'toshi-koshi'. Families also make 'Osechi' on New Years Day because cooking during the first 3 days of the New Year is considered unlucky,
(above left: Osechi above right: toshikoshi-soba)
Hatsumode, another wide spread tradition, is the year's first visit to a shrine or temple. Hatsumode festivities are held at practically every shrine and temple across Japan. Various food stands and games are set up leading to the shrine for visitors to enjoy. In the main hall of the shrine or temple, people gather in a line for prayer. Visitors also purchase Omomari for the new year, and old charms are disposed of to avoid bad luck. At midnight, the temple's bell is rung repeatedly to indicate the New Year has begun.
A modern tradition on New Years is to watch the popular music program "Kohaku uta Gassen" on TV. Popular singers are invited on to the show and split into two teams. Women are on the red team, while men are on the white team. Each singer has the chance to try to win the audience's heart through singing. Before midnight the winning team is announced and they are given the "winner's flag".
-Heidi Pohl
A modern tradition on New Years is to watch the popular music program "Kohaku uta Gassen" on TV. Popular singers are invited on to the show and split into two teams. Women are on the red team, while men are on the white team. Each singer has the chance to try to win the audience's heart through singing. Before midnight the winning team is announced and they are given the "winner's flag".
-Heidi Pohl