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Tolling in the New
The family waits up to hear the Joya-no-Kane, or midnight tooling of the temple bells. At the stroke of midnight on New year's Eve, the entire nation listens to the tolling of the Tsuri-Gane, the great bells or gongs at Japan's Buddhist temples. While it is bell-shaped, the Tsuri-gane is struck on the outside by a large wooden hammer suspended by ropes, so it may be thought of as a gong. At Chion-in Temple in Kyoto, many visitors are drawn every New Year's Eve to watch the tolling of one of the largest bells in the world. It weighs 74 tons. The Joya-no-Kane consists of 108 solemn tolls on the temple bells. According to Buddhism, man has 108 sins and that, by hearing the bells toll that number, he can be relieved of all of them. |
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Thus the New Year begins in Japan. Family members traditionally spend New Year's morning briefly worshiping at home at miniature Buddhist and Shinto altars. The people use the day for making resolutions which they intend to keep for the coming year. A well-known Japanese proverbs says: "New Year's is the key to unlock the year".
The family exchanges greeting for the holiday. Afterward, children are presented by their parents with Otoshi-Dama, New Year's gifts, usually in the form of money placed in special little envelopes. Later, relatives and close friends bring Otoshi-dama when they visit. The sum is larger than the usual allowance and children are free to spend it as they wish. Children look forward to New Year's largely because they know they will receive Otoshi-dama and because they will be able to dress in their most beautiful clothes. |
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The three-day holiday is a time to visit shrines and temples to make pledges for the coming year and to pray for good luck. The main shrines and temples in Japan are specially decorated for the occasion and are often crowded with worshippers and visitors, all in their finest Kimono or Western clothes. The scene is at once bustling, solemn and colorful.
The custom of Nenshi, or paying calls on friends and relatives to greet them on the New Year, is very popular. During these visits, Otoso, a thick, sweet rice wine, is often served.
Sending Nengajo, or New Year's cards, is a very popular custom especially for distant friends and acquaintances. The cards are similar, perhaps, to Christmas cards in the West except that they are usually in the form of postcards. The tradition of sending these is very strong, and the mailmen make every effort to deliver all the cards on the morning of New Year's Day itself.
About two weeks before the holiday, post offices begin accepting bundles of Nengajo for New Year's Day. The cards are then sorted and tied in bundles for each household, and readied for delivery. Then on the morning of New Year's Day, mailmen make deliveries to each house. It is a great joy to receive and read greetings from friends, near and far, on that morning. |
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