20017. January 1st New Year お正月

2017/01/01 00:38

Happy New Year. 明けましておめでとうございます
In Japan, the time period of January is called "oshougatsu"especially from January 1st to 7th. Many companies and shops are closed for the first three days of the New Year.
Oshougatsu is a very important day for Japanese. 日本では、新年の１ヶ月、とりわけ１月1日～7日までを「お正月」と呼びます。
It is said that Oshougatsu was originally a festival to welcome Toshigami, a Shinto god, and pray for a rich harvest for the year. Now, it is an event to celebrate the new year.
お正月はもともと神道の「年神様」を迎え、その年の豊作を祈る「神祭り」だったそうです。現在は新しい年を祝う行事として考えられています。
People say "akemashite omedetou gozaimasu" or "congratulations on the new year" to people whom they meet for the first time in the new year. "gozaimasu" is added for politeness. 年が明けて初めて会った人には「明けましておめでとうございます」と挨拶。「ございます」と丁寧に挨拶します。During New Year holidays, a lot of Japanese people visit shrines or temple to make wishes for the coming year. お正月休みの間に、多くの人が新年の願い事をするために神社仏閣を訪れます。Most Japanese people buy or prepare osechi. osechi is a type of dish, specially-prepared and eaten during the New Year.
多くの日本人はおせちを買ったり準備したりします。
This photo is the last New Year's osechi.
My younger son's family came back to visit from America during oshogatsu last year.
昨年のお正月には一時帰国した次男家族と過ごしたのでその時に用意したお節です。