Festivals and Holidays January-March

Omatsuri or festivals are numerous in Japan. There's a national holiday monthly (and sometimes two of them) which provides both a day off from work/school, and a cause to celebrate. I was fortunate to partake in many of the festivities which made me more enlightened in both customs and culture.

JANUARY: 
Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year)
The New Year is celebrated from January 1-3. Homes are cleaned, traditional food osechi is prepared, and people visit temples or shrines. Instead of sending out Christmas cards, the Japanese send out New Year postcards called nengajo. It's also custom to hand out money to children on New Year's Day called otoshidama. My students would return to school bragging about how much they pulled in from the holiday!

A traditional decoration, kagami mochi or mirror cake, is made with mochi (rice cake) and a Japanese bitter orange called daidai. This is generally displayed on the Shinto altar in homes. On January 11, the kagami mochi is broken and eaten.

The mochi represents the coming and going years.
The daidai symbolizes the continuation of families
from generation to generation.

Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age Day)
Celebrated annually on the second Monday of January, this festival is for all 20 year olds. Twenty is the age of majority in Japan and this ceremony commemorates these young men and women becoming adults. On this day, both the men and women dress in kimono, although it's acceptable for the men to wear suits. Government officials usually give a speech, small gifts are handed out, then the newly recognized adults attend parties with their friends.

A couple of my private students decided to dress me in kimono. It took quite a while to dress; the kimono consisting of no less than 12 pieces which have to be donned in a particular fashion. I have no idea how they are able to dress themselves without an aide. Some older women still wear kimono on a daily basis, but most save them for special occasions. I think kimono is beautiful, especially the obi sash. The shoes are called geta and despite resembling a flip flop, they are much more difficult to walk in.

FEBRUARY: 
Setsubun (Bean throwing festival)
Celebrated on February 3, Setsubun is the day before Spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. To mark the division of seasons, the Japanese throw beans inside and outside of their homes while chanting, Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! Out with demons! In with happiness!

People also throw beans at temples and shrines, then eat the number of beans that correspond with their age. The purpose of this holiday is to pray for good health and fortune for the year.

National Foundation Day: celebrated on February 11 marking the day of the first Emperor's enthronement. This holiday held little meaning to me other than a day off work.

Valentine's Day: celebrated on February 14 but the custom in Japan is for women to give chocolates to men. There are two types of chocolates they hand out. The first is called giri-choco which is considered an obligation. These would be distributed to friends, colleagues, and bosses. The second is honmei-choco which is given to their boyfriend or husband. These chocolates are often handmade instead of store-bought to show how much they care for their true love.

MARCH: 
Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival)
On March 3, young girls dress in kimono for this festival, while families pray for their happiness, prosperity and good health. There's a tiered platform in homes, covered with red cloth and hina dolls that represent the emperor, empress, attendants and musicians. The dolls are taken down immediately after the festival, as there is an old superstition that those slow in putting away the dolls will have trouble marrying off their daughters.

Shiho wearing her school uniform before kimono;
hina dolls represented on tiered platform.

White Day: celebrated on March 14, one month after Valentine's Day. This holiday is for men to reciprocate gifts to women that treated them to chocolates in February. Gifts include flowers, candy or chocolate (usually white to match the name of the day). This custom is unique to Japan...possibly a ploy on the part of chocolate and candy companies to make a little extra money?

Spring Equinox Day: celebrated on March 21. No cause to celebrate, just another day off of work.

Stay tuned for the next post featuring more holidays and festivals.

~MT