Japanese new year- Shogatsu and Gantan,… Oops… I knew it, that you haven’t heard this name. Okay, Don’t Worry. I’ll help you out from this puzzle. Well, Shogatsu is the Japanese New Year Celebration and Gantan is Japanese New Year’s Day.
You know what, In Japan, the New Year is not just another holiday, this day is widely considered the most important holiday. Like, many other countries, it might be the case for Easter, Christmas or Independence, But certainly not the case for New Year’s Day.
‘AKEMASHITE-OMEDETOU-GOZAIMASU’… Hahaha… Another typical word for you. Actually, it means HAPPY NEW YEAR. Japanese used to wish each other whenever they see each other for the first time after January 1st.
Celebration without food, I can’t imagine this. That’s why I m going to tell you now what special dishes are there for the Japanese New Year Celebration.
Japanese people eat special dishes called ‘Osechi Ryori’ during ‘Shogatsu’. They are packed in Jubako box, they eat prawns for long life, herring roe for fertility and other foods for specific reasons. One more traditional dish to et is ‘Mochi’ (Rice Cake) dishes during New Year’s festivities. ‘Zouni’ (Rice Cake Soup) is the most popular mochi dish. The ingredients in this dish depend upon regions and families.
During New Year’s celebrations in Japan, it’s customary to give money to children. This is known as ‘Otoshidama’. If you guys are going to a family gathering, so have some money available in small envelopes. And surprise them with these gifts.
One more amazing thing I got to know, and I m very excited to share it with you about the Japanese new year. It’s traditional for Japanese people to visit a shrine or temple at the time of New Year’s Celebs. They pray for their health, wealth, prosperity and success. and, visiting the first time to the temple or shrine in a year can say ‘Hatsumoude‘.
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