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Japanese New Year: Families
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A decoration for the New Year for inside the home is made of two large, flattened balls of mochi rice cakes, with a mikan, tangerine on top. This decoration is displayed in a prominent place in the home, and after the new year, is eaten by the whole family. Kadomatsu, made of pine branches, bamboo, and straw, is placed beside the gates or doorways of homes. Pine branches symbolize long life and bamboo represents strength. Shimekazari is a decoration made of rice husks for the doors of homes and shops. Fern leaves, oranges, or lobsters represent good luck for the coming year.
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In Japan, as the end of the year approaches, the customary and familiar symbols of the New Year appear in the streets and in homes. Many of the symbols are based upon or linked to the Shinto, Buddhist, or folk traditions of Japan. The kudomatsu or "gate-pine" is an arrangement of pine, bamboo, and sometimes plum blossom. The arrangement is placed on either side of the front entrance to the house to ward off evil dominance and invoke fertility, growth, and the power to resist adversity and old age. The pine represents strength, longivity and youthful optimism. The bamboo, which is straight and unbending, symbolizes resilience, uprightness, rapid growth and finial piety; it leans with the wind, but does not break.
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Celebrating the "Year of the Mouse," Oshogatsu, the Morikami's traditional New Year celebratory festival, includes games and entertainment throughout the museum and its gardens. During the Oshogatsu festival, families are invited to ring in new beginnings Japanese-style with traditional and unique pastimes, games and customs. The indoor/outdoor event will feature:
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Japanese children enjoy flying kites on New Years Day and to receiving otoshidama which is a gift of money given by adult friends and family members. While most businesses are closed the first three days of the New Year, schools generally recess for about 2 weeks.
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Japanese New Year is "a time of remembering your family and your ancestors," said RJA president Ronna Toba Treier of Pittsford. "It ties into the core philosophy and beliefs of our culture."
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The second day of the Chinese New Year is for married daughters to visit their birth parents. Traditionally, daughters who have been married may not have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently. On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.
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