New Year in Japan is one of the most important holiday of the year, all the family will be reunited together to celebrate. Every year is independent from one to another, so it is important to have a fresh start on the 1st of January.
In order to proceed and succeed the fresh start, every family will clean the house from the roof to the floor, every corners has to be cleaned. Once everything is ready, we will create decoration to hang on the front door, in the entrance. those decorations, called “Kadomatsu”, are made from pine, bamboo or plum tree. They will help keeping the good energies inside and the bad ones outside of the house.
The traditional belief is that the New Year God named Toshigami-Sama will come down to the house and will protect it for a year, the cleaning is also made so that the ancient spirit can go. It is like an energy renewal ! Also all the family will offer a rice cake made for the occasion to the deity.
In Japan, New Year is an opportunity to start fresh with all your family around you.
And you, what would you do to get your own fresh start this year ?
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