New Year in Japan - 日本 の お正月 (nihon no osyougatsu)

In Japan there are many things that are done in the month of December to receiveNuevo.la Year Christmas is a very important holiday for all of you, not only the significancebut it is celebrated with family, but in Japan, the festival which is celebrated with the family is the New Year, and the Japanese is more important than Christmas.
o explain a little what is done before the New Year. There are many things that are made,and all have a meaning, but today I'll write a few.



Oosouji (大扫除) signifcant literally "great cleansing" and is thus a general housecleaning is done for the New Year, shooting the bad luck of last year out of the house.





Kadomatsu (门 松) is a floral motif that is composed of bamboo, a symbol of persistence,and pines, which means "long life" (pictured above).

The "Kadomatsu" is placed at the entrance of the house or the shops on either side of the door, and to welcome the gods of good fortune to visit us. The "Kadomatsu" is quite expensive, therefore, need not be real, can be of any other similar material, what matters are the feelings. Placed until January 7th day, the day the gods are said to return.




 


Osechi Ryouri (おせ ち 料理): a special New Year dinner (pictured above). Prepare a few days and may be stored for about three or four days. This is done so that everyone (eventhe cook) to enjoy with family, relatives and friends visiting the home. With dishesprepared, they can attend visits without having to spend all day in the kitchen.

Nowadays, the meals, "Osechi" already prepared, sold in hotels and restaurants.

Each of these foods has a meaning, about life, luck and happiness, but I'll explain inanother entry.





Jyoya no Kane (除夜の鐘): literally means "bell of the New Year's Eve." In Japan it iscustomary to eat 12 grapes by 12 strokes, but you hear the 108 bells of Buddhist temples, which represent the number of sins of man, according to Buddhist belief.Listening to each stroke, it is said that you can "throw away" the sins of the year in order to start the New Year "clean."

The strokes are 107 for the year is gone, and the last camapanda has to coincide with the start the New Year.

I leave you a video so they can see how they are the bells of a temple.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fszxAfbGbk&feature=player_embedded#!


I think it's the video for television news, because in reality the atmosphere is more relaxed.

I hope you have got to know a little about what the year end and New Year in Japan.