New Year's is said to be the oldest event in Japan. Of all the Japanese events and customs, it can be said to be the most cherished culture.
The character "sho" in New Year's Day has the meaning of "beginning" of the year and "changing" the year. In the past, the whole month of January was known as "New Year's Day" and was known as the "Month of Correction."
From the beginning of the New Year, I spent half a month cleaning and tidying up my wife's home, preparing decorations, a place for the Toshigami, and offerings. It is also an important day for families to welcome and celebrate the new Toshigami.
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1. first sunrise
In Japan, where there has been a strong belief in the sun since ancient times, the first sunrise of the year has been viewed as something special.
It is believed that Toshigami appears at the same time as the sunrise of the first year of the year, and by watching the first sunrise of the year when Toshigami appears, which brings abundance, it has the meaning of welcoming Toshigami as soon as possible and praying for happiness and a bountiful harvest for the year ahead.
It is also said that seeing the sunrise brings various blessings. It is said that the higher the mountain is, the sooner you can see the sunrise, which is said to bring you good luck, and seeing the sunrise from Mt. Fuji is very popular.
Toshigami
Toshigami is the deity that protects and rules the household for the year. Depending on the region, it is called by various names, such as Toshitokujin, Tondo-san, Ehojin, and New Year's God. New Year's Day is a cultural tradition that welcomes the Toshigami on the third day of the year.
2. first visit of the year to a shrine
Hatsumode is the first visit of the year to visit a shrine or temple to pray for happiness in the new year. It is also sometimes called "first visit."
From the evening of New Year's Eve to the morning of New Year's Day, people seclude themselves at the shrine where the guardian deity resides and pray all night for a good harvest and safety in the new year.As time passed, this ``Toshikamori'' became known as ``Joyamode,'' a visit to pray on New Year's Eve. It is said that the shrine was divided into ``New Year's Day pilgrimages,'' which are those visited on New Year's Day.
What is the correct way to visit New Year's visit?
If you don't have the opportunity to visit shrines and temples on a regular basis, you might forget the rules and procedures for proper worship. Let's review it once again.
①. Stop and bow in front of the torii gate ②: Purify your hands and mouth at the chozubachi ③: Dedicate old amulets and shrines ④: Pray at the main shrine
<Visiting procedures>
1. Prepare your posture and appearance before approaching the shrine.
2. Gently put the offering money into the offering box.
3. Ring the bell
4. Bow deeply twice in a row
5. Put your hands together in front of your chest and clap twice in a row.
6. Pray with your hands together
⑤. Bow once again when leaving the shrine grounds.
By when should you go to New Year's visit?
Many people usually go to New Year's visit during the 3rd day of the month, but it would be better to go on the 7th day of Matsu-no-uchi or the 15th day of the New Year. Since it will be at the beginning of the year, I would like to finish it by the end of January at the latest.
3. New Year's gift
Otoshidama is said to have its origins in Kagami- mochi , which was offered to welcome the Toshigami (God of Toshigami) on New Year's Day, and was given to children by the head of the household. The origin and etymology of ``Otoshidama'' comes from the fact that the mochi balls in which the ``mitama'' of the god of the year resided were called ``otoshidama'' (otoshidama). Since ancient times, people have sometimes given not only rice cakes but also goods and money, and these New Year's gifts have come to be called ``Otoshidama.''
It was around the period of high economic growth in the late 1950s that money became mainstream as New Year's gifts.
New Year's gifts are passed from superiors to subordinates, from the head of the household to his family, from masters to servants, from masters to disciples, and so on, so the custom of giving them to children gradually became established. In other cases, words such as "New Year's Day" and "New Year's Day" are used.
4. first dream
The dreams that occur from the night of January 1st to the morning of the 2nd are considered ``Hatsuyume,'' but I hope you can think of it as the ``three days'' of the New Year.
It is said that dreaming of `` Ichifuji, Nitaka, and Sannasubi' ' in your first dream is auspicious.
Fuji is said to mean "safety," hawk means "high," and eggplant means "achievement." This is followed by `` Shiogi Gotoba Rokuzatou (four fans, five cigarettes, six heads) '', in which the fan ``spreads out'', the cigarette ``the way the smoke rises brings good luck'', and the zatou ``injury''. It is a catchphrase that means "There is no such thing."
Not everyone dreams all the time, so there's no need to be disappointed if you don't see ``One Fuji, Two Hawks, and Three Eggplants'' in your dream. It seems that some dreams, which at first glance seem to be unlucky, may predict good fortune. Introducing dreams that are said to be auspicious.
An auspicious dream
1. A dream in which the sun's rays are impressive <br>A dream in which the sun's rays are impressive suggests that good luck will come. The sun is a dream of life force and vitality, which is the source of all life.
2. A dream in which fresh blood is impressive <br>A dream in which fresh blood is impressive is said to be a sign that your luck will be great. It represents that a difficult situation will improve or an opportunity will come, and it is said to bring good luck and good luck.
3. A dream of dying or being killed <br>At first glance, it may seem like a nightmare, but death means rebirth. Therefore, it means that the current situation will improve and major changes will occur in yourself and those around you.
4. A dream with an impressive rainbow <br>Dreams with an impressive rainbow are said to bring good luck, such as success in work or fulfillment in love. It is said that if you see a rainbow with seven beautiful colors, all your worries will be solved at once.
5. beginning of calligraphy
Calligraphy is a Japanese New Year event held once a year, and refers to writing and drawing at the beginning of the year. People often make resolutions and prayers for the new year, and in addition to words expressing goals and efforts, it is standard to write four-character idioms that wish for health and happiness. Generally, Sho-zome is held on January 2nd.
6. Legends of the first three days of the New Year
The three days from New Year's Day are called New Year's Day. The third day is the time to welcome the god of the year to your home. That is why there is a taboo that has been passed down since ancient times that says you should not do anything during those three days without disrespecting the gods.
1. don't clean
On New Year's Day, the god of the year comes to visit your home with good fortune, so it is said that you should refrain from cleaning so as not to dispel the good fortune. Before New Year's Eve, do some year-end cleaning.
2. Do not work with water
People also refrain from doing water work such as cleaning the kitchen, bath, and toilet, and doing laundry, as this means washing away the New Year's spirit with water.
3. Do not use knives
It is also considered taboo to use knives on New Year's Day. There are several theories about this. ``If you don't use a knife for the first three days, you can live a whole year in good health,'' ``Cutting with a knife means severing ties,'' and ``For the third day, let the knife rest.''
4. Do not boil
It is believed that there is a fire god called Kojin-sama in the hearth. It is said that on the third day of the month, one should refrain from cooking food using fire in order to give the gods a rest. It is also said that the lye that comes out when cooking is bad luck because it can bring bad luck.
5. Do not eat meat from four legs
Quadrupeds are animals that walk on four legs, such as pigs, cows, and horses.
Osechi ryori was originally an offering to the god of the year, and due to the Buddhist teachings against killing living things, four-legged meats such as pigs, cows, and horses are excluded from offerings to the gods.
6. don't fight
New Year's Day is also a day for families to gather together, so when a large number of people gather, fights may break out. However, since ancient times there has been a belief that fighting brings bad luck, and it is not considered appropriate to fight on the day of a new year.
7. Don't spend too much money on shopping
"Plans for the year are made on New Year's Day" means that it is important to make plans for the year on New Year's Day.As the saying goes, New Year's Day is the time to seriously think about what you need to do for the year, your goals, etc., and look ahead. It is considered a day for There is a legend that if you spend too much money, you won't be able to save any money for a year.
The tradition of the first three days is to not offend the god of the year, and there is also the idea of asking the god of fire and the god of water to take a break. And don't you think that the content is very housewife-oriented? This is because in Japan, women (wives) are called ``kami-san.'' It is often said that there is no rest for housework 365 days a year, but the third day of the year is also a sign of appreciation, and means that one should treat the wife like a god in the family and refrain from doing housework.
You can feel the origins of Japanese culture and life that we have inherited since ancient times [New Year customs]
Because we are less exposed to Japan's unique culture in our daily lives, I think there are times when we can experience and discover things anew.
Let's celebrate the New Year while having fun and correcting our hearts, keeping in mind our own resolutions for the year and the themes of each family and household.
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