Japanese New Year
...w the lunar calendar and Oshogatsu is the Lunar New Year. The New Year celebrations are very old traditions and Japanese households still partake in rituals that go as far back as the Edo period of the 17th Century. Lasting more than just a day, like many western festivals or public holidays, the Japanese New Year’s holidays last for several days, beginning on December the 28th running through to the 6th of January. Japanese New Year is full of culture and is much like Christmas to many other cultures. This time of the year in Japan is full of tradition ranging from ceremonial to culinary. In Japan the New Year is considered a time of forgiveness and cordiality to all. The New Year’s event’s are widely celebrated and enjoyed in Japan, beginning on the 28th of December unfinished business must be and is taken care of so, as the equivalent of ‘spring cleaning’ in western society house’s are cleaned thoroughly. Once the house is clean a lot of cooking is done to prepare for the traditional New Years meals. During this time debts are also paid so the holidays can be enjoyed with leisure and without stress and worries. After the preparations of the week before New Years Eve, the real celebration...