Traditional Japanese activities on New Year's Day
In Japan, many people visit shrines on New Year’s Day to pray for happiness in the New Year. And there people draw lots called omikuji to learn their fortune. On New Year’s Day, Japanese people eat rice cakes boiled with vegetables called zouni.
Children also enjoy kite-flying. This is called takoage and is the traditional Japanese children’s activity on New Year’s Day. Takoage was introduced from China during the Heian Period (794 to 1192) and developed in the Edo Period (1603 to 1867) as a children’s activity.
Kite-flying was originally an event for adults on Tango no Sekku (which means Boy’s Festival). And it is said that the origin of kite- fling goes back to ancient Greece, around 400 B.C.
Children used to enjoy kite-flying in a dry riverbed or open field, but there is less space for it in contemporary cities as there are so many buildings. When I was a child, I couldn’t enjoy kite-flying because there wasn’t enough space near my house.
Japanese kites are made of paper glued on to a thin bamboo frame. They are pulled with strings and flown high up in the sky using the force of the wind. Many kites have letters or pictures on them. Pictures of a samurai or a kabuki actor, or the face of an ogre are popular. Square kites, hexagonal ones and yakko-dako shaped kites are popular. In China, kites in the shapes of animals are flown. In England or Brazil, kites in the shape of birds are flown. In Europe, kites were used in practical ways such as in the study of lightning.
There are so many kind of kites all over the world and in Japan. Isn’t that really something? Some day, I want to enjoy kite-flying on New Year’s Day.
• • •
Comments (2)
Rudolf
wrote on January 12, 2006:
This reminds me of Hamamatsu Matsuri:
more than 150 teams compete in a spectacular ‘Kite Fighting’ competition in which giant kites are flown in a battle to cut the strings of the other teams’ kites. The kites are as large as three to five meters per side, and many of the teams spend the better part of a year making them and preparing for the festival.
I haven’t been to the festival itself, but near Hamamatsu beach there’s a lovely, colourful museum that has lots of kites on display throughout the year.
◊
yasuki
wrote on January 19, 2006:
I paid a visit to a shrine and temple, Hatsumoude with my family on New Year’s day. We made wishes for the new year and we prayed.
Hatsumoude is the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year in Japan. Many people go during the first, second or third dayof the year as most are off work those days.
Some people go to Ujigami , a god that has been believed and treasured in their town for a long. Some people go to famous shrines or temples, for example, “Ise shrine”, “Atsuta shrine” and “Meiji shrine”. Then the famous shrines and temples were crowded at this time of the year. Many visitors get ofuda and omamori, lucky charms. Some of them draw omikuji, forture slips which predict their future.
We went to the nearest shrine Ejima Hachimangoo first. After that we went to the temple, Koyasu Kannnonn.
However what do you think about this? Am I a Buddhist or a Shintoist?
In Japan, Buddhism and Shintoism are confused everywhere. And the Japanease people religiously obscure. I suppose that it is a great god for Japanease to make their dream come true. We want to live happily in good health ever after.
◊