Unraveling the History of the New Year! The Origin and Transition of Japanese New Year Events

 

As we welcome the new year, learning about its history and culture once again will help us celebrate New Year’s with a deeper meaning.

Origins of New Year’s

New Year’s Day is regarded as one of the most important events in Japanese traditional culture.

This milestone reflects ancient customs and rituals that have been passed down through the ages.

Knowing the origins of Oshogatsu is crucial to understanding the meaning behind this event.

Ancient Japanese New Year Events

The origins of the New Year can be traced back to ancient Japan.

For the Japanese, an agrarian people, the New Year was an important occasion to celebrate the harvest.

At this time of the year, a ceremony called “Toshigami” was held to welcome the gods to welcome the New Year.

The god of the age was the god of agriculture, and was worshipped to pray for a bountiful harvest and domestic safety.

To welcome the god of the year, households set up kadomatsu, or decorated with sacred straw ropes.

These customs remain strong in the modern New Year’s landscape.

Impact from China

There is also a strong Chinese influence in New Year’s customs.

Calendars and rituals introduced from China during the Asuka and Nara periods were incorporated into Japanese New Year events.

In particular, New Year rituals and festivals influenced by Tang culture permeated Japanese aristocratic society from the Heian period onward.

The Chinese custom of celebrating “New Year’s Day” or “New Year’s Day” was introduced to Japan, and this became the basis for the current New Year’s celebration.

Due to these Chinese influences, the Japanese New Year has evolved in its own unique way, yet it is an event that shows a fusion of diverse cultures.

New Year’s Day in the Heian Period

In the Heian period (794-1185), New Year’s events were further refined and became an important annual event in aristocratic society.

Various ceremonies were held at the court and careful preparations were made to welcome the New Year.

In this section, we will take a closer look at how the aristocrats of the Heian period spent New Year’s and the ceremonies that took place at court.

Aristocratic New Year Events

The aristocrats of the Heian period made many preparations to welcome the New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, people rang the “temple bell” to drive away evil spirits and prepare for the coming of the New Year.

On New Year’s Day, the emperor participated in a court ceremony called ganjitsu sechie (New Year’s Day Setsukai), where a grand banquet was held with the emperor at the center.

In this ceremony, the nobles exchange New Year’s greetings and wish each other health and prosperity.

In the Heian period (794-1185), there was also a custom of eating “Nanakusa-gruel” (rice gruel with seven herbs) to pray for good health throughout the year.

Ceremony at the Palace

Many ceremonies were held at court to welcome the New Year.

One of the most important ceremonies was the “New Year’s Day Setsukai,” which was an official event where the emperor received New Year celebrations from his subjects.

In addition, on “Koshogatsu,” “Jugoya-no-utage” was held, in which poems and dances were performed.

These ceremonies symbolized the pomp and splendor of court culture and were important events for the nobility to welcome the New Year.

These court rituals have influenced many modern New Year’s events.

New Year’s Day in the Edo Period

In the Edo period (1603-1867), New Year’s Day became widely established as an important event among the common people.

During this period, the culture of celebrating the New Year became even richer, with the emergence of customs and ways of spending the New Year that were unique to the common people.

Here we will take a closer look at how common people in the Edo period spent the New Year and the culture of New Year’s greetings.

How the common people spend the New Year

Common people in the Edo period made various preparations to welcome the New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, a big cleanup called “Susuharai” was held to purify the house and prepare it for the New Year.

It was also customary to eat “New Year’s Eve soba” on the night of New Year’s Eve to wish for longevity and family safety.

On New Year’s Day, families and relatives gathered to celebrate the New Year over osechi cuisine.

Osechi ryori is a dish designed to be preserved, and was prepared at the end of the year, and was also wisdom to spend the three days of the New Year in a relaxed manner.

The children also received New Year’s dough and enjoyed the New Year with games such as kite-flying and feather-pounding.

New Year’s Greeting Culture

During the Edo period, New Year’s greetings became an important social custom.

From New Year’s Day through the period known as Matsunouchi, people visited the homes of relatives, friends, and acquaintances to exchange New Year’s greetings.

This custom was called “New Year’s rounds,” and was especially important for merchants.

Merchant families offered New Year’s greetings to their customers and suppliers and prayed for prosperous business.

In the Edo period (1603-1867), there existed the “New Year’s greeting card,” a prototype of the “New Year’s card,” through which New Year’s greetings were sent to distant acquaintances.

This culture of New Year’s greetings has been carried over into the modern New Year.

New Year’s Day since the Meiji Era

In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japanese New Year’s celebrations underwent a major transformation.

Under the influence of Western culture, traditional customs and new practices were blended to form the modern form of New Year’s Day.

Here we will take a closer look at the evolution of the Japanese New Year since the Meiji period, focusing on the influence of Western culture and the modern form of the New Year.

Influence of Western Culture

After the Meiji Restoration, Japan rapidly westernized.

This trend also influenced New Year’s and the adoption of Western customs.

For example, with the adoption of the solar calendar (Gregorian calendar) in 1873, New Year’s based on the old calendar was replaced by the new calendar.

This change made the New Year’s festivities uniform throughout the country.

As Western-style Christmas became popular, Western-style decorations and food were also incorporated into New Year’s celebrations.

The introduction of these Western cultures changed the New Year into something more festive and diverse.

Modern New Year’s Shape

Modern New Year’s is celebrated in a way that blends traditional customs with Western culture.

On New Year’s Day, families and relatives gather to enjoy osechi dishes and ozoni.

Osechi ryori (New Year’s dishes) are a variety of dishes that each family has devised, and each region has its own unique ozoni (a type of stew).

It is also common for people to go on Hatsumode to pray for a safe and prosperous year.

In modern New Year’s, enjoying New Year’s specials on TV and sending each other New Year’s greeting cards are also important customs.

In addition, unique New Year’s commercial events such as New Year’s sales and the purchase of goody bags are also popular.

Thus, the modern New Year’s celebration is a harmonious blend of old traditions and new culture.

Symbolic customs of the New Year

New Year’s Day has a variety of symbolic customs.

These customs are time-honored traditions and have become an integral part of the modern New Year.

In this section, we will take a closer look at the origin of kadomatsu and shimenawa, the origin of osechi cuisine, and the history of hatsumode.

Origin of Kadomatsu and Shimenawa

Kadomatsu and shimenawa are widely known as symbols of the New Year.

Kadomatsu, a pine or bamboo tree, is used as a marker to welcome the god of the year.

Bamboo is a fast-growing tree and symbolizes vitality, while pine trees are evergreen and symbolize eternal life.

Combined, they pray for prosperity in the New Year and good health for the family.

On the other hand, shimenawa (sacred straw ropes) are used to separate the sacred place from the mundane world, and are meant to purify and avert misfortune.

A paper decoration called a shide is attached to the sacred rope, which is also considered to indicate the sacred area.

These customs show that ancient beliefs have continued to the present day.

Origins of Osechi Cuisine

Osechi ryori is a traditional dish essential for the New Year.

Originally, “Sekku ryori” was offered to the gods, and it is said to have originated in the Heian period (794-1185), when Sekchie was held at court and food was offered during the Sekchie.

During the Edo period (1603-1867), it became popular among the common people and approached its present form.

Each dish in Osechi cuisine has its own meaning.

For example, black soybeans symbolize the wish for “diligent work,” and sukago (a number of offspring) symbolize “prosperity of offspring.

In addition, kombumaki is connected to “rejoice,” and tasaku is a wish for a bountiful harvest.

In this way, each dish in Osechi ryori is lined with wishes for the New Year.

History of Hatsumode

Hatsumode is an event to visit shrines and temples on New Year’s Day to pray for safety and prosperity in the New Year.

This custom originated in the Heian period (794-1185) custom of toshigomori, or “annual lodging.

In Nenkorori, a ceremony to welcome the New Year was held at shrines and temples from the night of New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day, where prayers were offered and the New Year was celebrated.

Since the Meiji era (1868-1912), with the development of railroads, many people began to make Hatsumode pilgrimages, and it became a nationwide event.

In modern times, it is common for people to go to Hatsumode with family and friends to draw Omikuji and buy Hazama-ya.

Hatsumode is an important event to welcome the beginning of the New Year at a sacred place and to pray for safety and good fortune for the year ahead.

Modern New Year’s Shape

Modern New Year’s celebrations are evolving in line with new customs and changing lifestyles while preserving time-honored traditions.

Here we will take a closer look at the transmission and change of traditions, as well as new customs of our time.

Inheritance and Change of Tradition

Even today, New Year’s is an important time for families and relatives to gather and spend time together.

Traditional events and customs are still cherished, but their forms are gradually changing.

For example, Osechi dishes, which used to be mostly handmade, are now commonly purchased at department stores and specialty stores.

In addition, the sending of New Year’s cards is shifting to a new form using e-mail and social networking services.

Furthermore, while many people go out for Hatsumode (New Year’s visits to shrines), an increasing number of people are also making online pilgrimages at home.

These changes reflect the evolution of modern lifestyles and technology.

New Modern Customs

Many new customs and events have been incorporated into the modern New Year.

For example, countdown events and fireworks displays are held in many places to celebrate the moment of the New Year in a grand way.

In addition, New Year’s special programs are broadcast on TV on the third day of the New Year, and it is common for families to enjoy them together.

In addition, New Year’s sales and the purchase of fukubukuro (goody bags) are also a unique New Year’s treat.

In recent years, people have become more health-conscious and enjoy sports and outdoor activities to avoid gaining weight during the New Year.

These new customs make modern New Year’s more diverse and attractive.

summary

The New Year is an important event deeply rooted in Japanese society and culture from ancient times to the present.

The form and manner in which they are spent have changed over time, but the joy of spending time with family and friends and welcoming the New Year remains the same.

By cherishing traditional customs while also incorporating new ones, modern New Year’s is becoming richer and more diverse.

As we welcome the new year, we invite you to reflect on the history and customs of the past and find ways to enjoy the New Year in the present.

 

For those who wish to learn more about the traditions and customs of the New Year, and for those who wish to experience them firsthand, Motenas Japan’s services are highly recommended.

Motenas Japan offers tours and workshops to experience traditional New Year’s culture.

For example, we can offer tailor-made Osechi cooking workshops, Hatsumode tours, etc.

Experiencing traditional Japanese culture will enrich your new year.

For more information or to contact us, please click on the link below.

Click here to contact Motenas Japan