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Special Shogatsu (New Year) Dishes
Many special dishes are prepared for the holiday season. Since the holiday itself is a time of rest from housework, the foods are such as to free the housewife from her regular chores. An important food at New Year is Omochi, steamed rice that has been pounded and formed into cakes. This is eaten either grilled on a brazier or in a soup, known as Ozoni. Vegetable dishes are also popular during the New Year holiday, partly because they are easy to prepare and easy to store. Food shops generally remain closed throughout the holiday period, so it is necessary to stock on all items.
Offerings are made to the household gods on a small table. The offerings usually consist of Omochi, dried persimmons, dried chestnuts, pine seeds, black peas, sardines, herring roe, a cray fish, a sea-bream, some dried cuttlefish, Mochibana, or flowers made of rice and straw, mandarin oranges, and many other items varying from district to district. |
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Preparations for the holiday are all completed by New Year's Eve. By then, all businesses and nearly all stores are closed, and a strange calm settles over both city and countryside. During the three-day holiday period, known as Shogatsu Sanganichi , everyone except those who run amusement enterprises or are responsible for essential services, such as transportation, have a period of vacation. For many people, the year-end holiday actuallv begins around December 29, when all public offices begin their vacations. Others end their work either on the 30th or early on the 31 st. In recent years, therefore, more people have been taking advantage of the long holiday to travel to the countryside for skiing and skating, or for relaxing at hot spring resorts.
On New Year's Eve, most people spend their time with their families. Sons and daughters who have moved to the city return to their parents' homes in the country if this is at all possible. That way the entire family greets the New Year together. Many families pass the evening watching special television programs. Others visit shrines and temples where they pray by the light of bonfires. |
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A Time of Renewal
In addition to its social purposes, O-Shogatsu, or the New Year, is a time of renewal and as such it is marked by numerous ceremonies. By tradition, for example, storekeepers on the second day of the New Year have a ceremony known as Hatsuni, when the first merchandise of the year is delivered and stocked. Another traditional event on January 2 is Kaizome, or the ceremony of the first calligraphic writing drawn with a brush. Yet another tradition is that Hatsu-Yume, or first dream. The commencement of a things is celebrated on January 2.
On the third day of the holiday, which is the last day of the official holiday-period, even though some rituals continue for several days, an ancient ritual known as Genshisai is performed at the Imperial Court. The rare dance and music art form known as Gagaku is performed at the Imperial Court on this day. |
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