How to spend the Japanese New Year? Get to know their celebration full of spirituality – Publimetro México
He Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) is much more than a day on the calendar. It is the time to take stock of the year and express gratitude for the experiences lived, but it is also an opportunity for change and transformation to begin a new cycle with renewed hope.
This celebration is reflected both in the streets and in the gastronomy, where traditions, with a deep meaning, mark both mental and physical rebirth.
Rituals like hatsumode (first visit of the year to the sanctuary and/or temple) and the preparation of special meals are expressions of that desire to start the year with peace, health and prosperity.
During these days of reflection and renewal, Japan is clothed in symbolism and customs that reinforce the spirit, strengthen family ties and prepare the way for the next cycle.
Here we show you a little of everything you can experience during this very special celebration for the country of the rising sun.
Symbols of renewal in the Japanese New Year
As is a tradition in Japan, food is linked to a philosophy of life. An example of this is the eating soba (traditional noodles made from buckwheat) on New Year’s Evesince its elongated shape symbolizes longevity and is associated with a long and prosperous life.
Cutting the noodles represents leaving behind the difficulties and problems of the ending year.to start the next cycle with renewed energy and a positive attitude. Hotels like Conrad Osaka include this dish in their New Year’s Eve celebrations.
He Jewel no Kane (New Year’s bell ringing) is a Japanese ritual in which Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times during the night of December 31.
According to Buddhist tradition, this number represents unfulfilled desires, and each chime helps to purify them, starting the new year with a clean heart. In some temples, visitors can participate directly by ringing the bell during the ceremony.
Hatsumode: Prayers and predictions for the new year
He hatsumode, It is a Japanese tradition in which one goes to the shrine and/or temple to pray for safety, health and good luck for the new cycle.
It takes place on January 1 or in the first days of the year, so the sanctuaries and temples are usually very crowded on these dates.
During the hatsumodeit is common to practice omikuji (written prediction about the near future), available at shrines and temples at a cost of 100 to 200 yen. At the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, these predictions are offered in Japanese and English.
Osechi Ryori: New Year’s dish to attract luck
He osechi ryori It is the traditional Japanese food to celebrate the New Yearcomposed of a variety of disheseach with a meaning related to good luck: black beans for health, herring eggs for the prosperity of offspring, and shrimp for a long life.
You can purchase osechi ryori in convenience stores, although it is advisable to order it in advance, as it is not always available directly in stores. It is also possible to enjoy this traditional dish in hotels such as the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo in Tokyo.
