Oomisoka (New Year's Eve) - December 31Oomisoka (New Year's Eve) - December 31
What's the meaning of this event?
The last day of the year is called Oomisoka in Japanese. To
welcome the new year with good feelings, people clean up their house.
Preparations for the New Year are to be made by Oomisoka.
Actually, this is not an event; no one celebrates it. However, the
preparations for the New Year are very important for Japanese people,
so many Japanese are busy cleaning and preparing for
Syogatsu (New Year's season).
What do people do on this day?
To welcome the new year with good feelings, a general house-cleaning
is completed, tatami (the flooring rush mats) are re-recovered and
shooji (the sliding paper screens) are repapered by this date; family
reunions are held and the whole family brings in New Year with a sense
of togetherness.
At about midnight, bells speeding the old year begin to be rung at
temples all around the country, which is called joya-no-kane. While
listening to the sound of the bells, people eat
toshi-koshi-soba (year crossing noodles), wishing for health in
the coming year and long life.
Joya-no-kane
Toshi-koshi-soba
Kotatsu
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Date last modified: Tuesday, 05-Mar-2002 16:50:01 EST
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