The way I began the year of 2019 in Nagano.(part 1)

Here, I would like to introduce ways that Japanese people spend the New years' days based on my own experience.

When I spent a new year's eve and the new years' days in Denmark as a student, people celebrated it with fireworks and bottles of beer, and the word which popped into my mind was "BUSTLING". People intoxicated and the noise of fireworks overtook loud voices of party people. And therefore, I easily imagine foreigners can think of that Japanese 年越し "Toshikoshi" (New Year's Eve) is just like that.

 However, the fact is the opposite. The word would be tranquility (if I had to pick.)

Most of Japanese quietly wait for the new year to come with their family members. You go home to meet your parents, grand parents and siblings, and have Osechi (cuisine specifically eaten on the new year's days).

Others might go to have a Ninen-mairi (二年参り) which means Two years of praying. It is a visit to a shrine/temple over the year. So technically, you can pray twice over two years (the leaving year and the incoming year). One is for wiping out all the bad lucks and regrets you Had and the other is for wishing good lucks and joys you Have in the new year.

At the moment you welcome the year, you can hear bells ringing from somewhere very far. the bell is rung 108 times for sweeping away People's evil passions.

In the end, you eat Toshikoshi-sobe (Buck wheat Noodle for the new year).  Really quiet, is not it? You can find how different your culture and that of Japanese on the 1/1 on the next blog!