Happy New Year!

New Year is a major holiday in Japan. Most businesses are closed for several days at the end of the year through January 3rd. Homes and entry gates are decorated with ornaments made of pine and bamboo. It is a time for families to get together. 

The new year is a new beginning, so the old year has to be closed. In the weeks before the end of they year, friends and co-workers meet and drink alcohol at bonenkai parties (year forgetting parties) in order to leave behind the old year worries. Everyone does a big end of the year cleaning - osouji, in order to get rid of unneeded things and to start the new year with a clean, organized household. 

Toshikoshi soba noodles, which symbolize longevity, are eaten on New Year's Eve.

People watch a music show on television on new year's eve, featuring famous singers in matching costumes and flashy stages. 

New Year's morning, it is tradional to watch the first sunrise of the year. Everything in the house should already be clean and the day full of joy. Many visit the shrine on one of the first three days of the year. There is a lot of special traditional food served during the new year holiday and if you are not inclined to make it yourself, you can order it ahead from any number of shops. New year cards are written and mailed in December, with the post office holding them to deliver on January first. 

I think New Year is when we can start fresh and forget about the troubles of the past year. There were many world wide troubles last year.  I hope we can start fresh.